S. C. "Preacher" McKenzie

Gastonia Police Department — Gastonia, NC

Accident

End of Watch August 13, 1941

Age 31

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

The Vigil Panel 78 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Patrolman Preacher McKenzie was killed in a vehicle accident while responding to a fire call. He was en route to work when the call came over the radio. His vehicle collided with a vehicle driven by Patrolman Bryant Birt. As a result of the accident, Patrolman Birt became paralyzed. He died of his injuries on July 29, 1944. Patrolman McKenzie was single and had served with the agency for three years. He is buried Oakwood Cemetery, Gastonia, North Carolina.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NC-4572D50B
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 McKenzie gave the Gastonia Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Gastonia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman McKenzie.

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

Agency

Department Gastonia Police Department

Location Gastonia, NC

Platform Identity gpd.gaston.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 13, 1941

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 31

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Patrolman S. C. "Preacher" McKenzie 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 NC, 205 of 664 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30.9% of this state's fallen.

At Gastonia Police Department, 2 of 6 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

Gastonia Police Department

of 6 officers

33.3% Accident

NC — Statewide

205

of 664 officers

30.9% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers