Oscar Newton Morris
Agency patch
Trooper

Oscar Newton Morris

Tennessee Highway Patrol — Nashville, TN
Felonious Veteran
End of Watch April 19, 1956
Age 33
Badge 171
The Vigil Panel 91 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Trooper Oscar Morris was struck and killed by a drunk driver at 11:34 p.m. while conducting a driver's license check on another driver on Highway 70 in Lebanon, Tennessee. Trooper Morris was returning to his vehicle when he was struck by a drunk driver, who then fled the scene. After checking on Trooper Morris, a college student whom he was giving a ride to got behind the wheel of the police car and chased the suspect. The student was able to stop the suspect and held him until other officers arrived. The subject was sentenced to 18 years in prison on August 16, 1956. Trooper Morris, a U.S.

Survivors

Army veteran, was survived by his parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-E881B62E
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Oscar. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

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.
Trooper Morris served with the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Thank you for your service to the people of Tennessee, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Location Nashville, TN
Platform Identity thp.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 19, 1956
Age 33
Badge Number 171
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved
Offender Sentenced to 18 years

Military Service

Oscar Newton Morris served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Trooper Oscar Newton Morris 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Tennessee Highway Patrol, 6 of 41 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 14.6% of this agency's fallen.

Tennessee Highway Patrol
6
of 41 officers
14.6% Felonious
TN — Statewide
498
of 769 officers
64.8% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Oscar Newton Morris's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Oscar Newton Morris Compares

Age at End of Watch
33
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 18 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Oscar Newton Morris is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Oscar Newton Morris was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location