Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Oliver Gunnels was shot and killed while investigating a suspicious man the railroad station at Augusta and Vardry Streets. he suspect was seen entering a bathroom. When Sergeant Gunnels shined his flashlight in the bathroom the suspect opened fire with a .22 caliber pistol, fatally wounding him. The man fled but was later caught after murdering a railroad conductor in Augusta, Georgia. The man was taken from the Augusta Jail and lynched by an angry mob. Sergeant Gunnels had been with the agency for 26 years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-70BDF767- 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
26 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Gunnels gave the Greenville Police Department 26 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Greenville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Gunnels.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Oliver S. Gunnels 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 SC, 271 of 438 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Greenville Police Department, 11 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 91.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Oliver S. Gunnels's cause is highlighted.
How Oliver S. Gunnels Compares
Offender Outcome
Lynched by mob
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Oliver S. Gunnels is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Oliver S. Gunnels was killed by handgun; .22 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Greenville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
