Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrol Officer John Perkey was killed in an automobile crash while he and his partner pursued a speeder around 1:30 a.m. While traveling on Severvielle Pike, their patrol car slid on a wet spot in the road, causing them to lose control and hit a tree. Officer Perkey was thrown from the vehicle and killed. The driver sustained minor injuries. Officer Perkey was a U.S Army veteran and served with the Knoxville Police Department for three years.
Survivors
Survivors include his wife, parents, and two brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-1C9ADA4D- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrol Officer Perkey gave the Knoxville Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Knoxville community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John H. Perkey served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrol Officer John H. Perkey is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TN, 191 of 769 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 24.8% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Knoxville Police Department, 4 of 17 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 23.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John H. Perkey's cause is highlighted.
How John H. Perkey Compares
Offender Outcome
Not available
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. John H. Perkey is highlighted in Dec.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
16 officers from Knoxville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
