Neal R. Courtney

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department — St. Louis, MO

Felonious

End of Watch April 26, 1946

Age 36

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

The Vigil Panel 82 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 175

Incident

Police Officer Neal Courtney was stabbed to death by a 71-year-old vagrant near a vacant lot in the 1500 block of North Broadway. Officer Courtney had instructed the man to extinguish a small campfire that the man had set. When the man refused Officer Courtney began to put it out with his foot. The man picked up a lighted stick and struck Officer Courtney in the face. After a short pursuit, a struggle ensued and the suspect produced a small penknife. During the struggle Officer Courtney received numerous stab wounds to his face and neck and his jugular vein was severed. The suspect was apprehended by a watchman who witnessed the incident. The suspect was found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to a mental institution. He died in the Fulton State Mental Hospital on January 3, 1968. Officer Courtney was survived by his wife and 6-year-old daughter. His father and brother were also members of the police department.

Survivors

Officer Courtney was survived by his wife and 6-year-old daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MO-EDF83103
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.
Police Officer Courtney gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Courtney.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department

Location St. Louis, MO

Platform Identity stlopd.saintlouis.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 26, 1946

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Edged weapon; Knife

Offender Died in mental hospital

Police Officer Neal R. Courtney is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, 112 of 176 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.6% of this agency's fallen.

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department

112

of 176 officers

63.6% Felonious

MO — Statewide

516

of 813 officers

63.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious