Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Michael Wright was killed in an automobile accident while pursuing a suspect on Highway 51 at 3:55 am. Patrolman Wright and his partner were traveling northbound on Highway 51 when a struck tractor-truck traveling southbound turned left on Watkins Street in front of their patrol car. The tractor was dislodged during impact, and the patrol car went under the trailer. His partner was admitted to Baptist Hospital with a broken leg. Patrolman Wright was transported to John Gaston Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Patrolman Wright served with the Memphis Police Department.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and young daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-506EC8BE- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Wright served with the Memphis Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Memphis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Wright.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Michael D. Wright, Jr. 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 Memphis Police Department, 25 of 94 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 26.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael D. Wright, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Michael D. Wright, Jr. Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Michael D. Wright, Jr. is highlighted in Sep.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
93 officers from Memphis Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
