Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Sergeant Neel McDermott succumbed to injuries received one week earlier while trying to apprehend two of six escapees from the Pulaski County Jail. He attempted to arrest the two suspects behind the National Cemetary when he was shot. The suspect who shot Detective Sergeant McDermott was sentenced to death but later had his sentence commuted to life. On August 18, 1933, he was shot and killed when he attempted to escape from Tucker Prison Farm. Detective Sergeant McDermott had served with the Little Rock Police Department for two years and previously served as a Deputy Sheriff for at least two years. He was survived by his expectant wife and one daughter. His second daughter was born a few months after his death.
Survivors
He was survived by his expectant wife and one daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AR-0F50FE84- 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.
Detective Sergeant McDermott gave the Little Rock Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Little Rock community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant McDermott.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Sergeant Samuel Neel McDermott 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 AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 66.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Little Rock Police Department, 19 of 23 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 82.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Samuel Neel McDermott's cause is highlighted.
How Samuel Neel McDermott Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Samuel Neel McDermott is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Samuel Neel McDermott was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
22 officers from Little Rock Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
