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Chief of Police

Thurston F. Meeks

New Ellenton Police Department — New Ellenton, SC

Felonious

End of Watch June 7, 1961

Age 52

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 96 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Chief Meeks was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance. As he intervened in a squabble between a man and his wife the man shot him.

The suspect, 27, pleaded guilty to first degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison on May 16, 1962.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-SC-146E8C9D
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.
Chief of Police Meeks gave the New Ellenton Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the New Ellenton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Meeks.

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

Agency

Department New Ellenton Police Department

Location New Ellenton, SC

Platform Identity nepd.aiken.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 7, 1961

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 52

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun; 12 gauge

Offender Sentenced to life

Chief of Police Thurston F. Meeks 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 New Ellenton Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

New Ellenton Police Department

of 2 officers

50% Felonious

SC — Statewide

271

of 438 officers

61.9% 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. Thurston F. Meeks'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 Thurston F. Meeks Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to life

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thurston F. Meeks is highlighted in Jun.

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. Thurston F. Meeks was killed by shotgun; 12 gauge.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from New Ellenton Police Department are honored on badge.nw.