Samuel C. Hickey
Agency patch
Patrolman

Samuel C. Hickey

Knoxville Police Department — Knoxville, TN
Felonious
End of Watch June 1, 1914
Age 45
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
The Vigil Panel 28 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Samuel Hickey was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a suspect for assault. The suspect was apprehended and sentenced to death. The Tennessee Supreme Court ordered a new trial and he was sentenced to life.

Patrolman Hickey had served with the Knoxville Police Department for three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, child, and brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-FE9798A4
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Hickey gave the Knoxville Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Knoxville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Hickey.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Knoxville, Knox County, TN
Platform Identity kpd.knox.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 1, 1914
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 45
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

Patrolman Samuel C. Hickey is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 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 64.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Knoxville Police Department, 12 of 17 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.6% of this agency's fallen.

Knoxville Police Department
12
of 17 officers
70.6% Felonious
TN — Statewide
498
of 769 officers
64.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Samuel C. Hickey's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Samuel C. Hickey Compares

Age at Death
45
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
3
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Samuel C. Hickey is highlighted in Jun.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Samuel C. Hickey was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909