W. Stith Tucker
Agency patch
Patrolman

W. Stith Tucker

Memphis Police Department — Memphis, TN
Felonious
End of Watch May 5, 1860
Age 32
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
The Vigil Panel 2 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Tucker died of stab wounds when he attempted to arrest a wanted fugitive.

Patrolman Tucker was assigned to duty at a horse race track. After the races ended, Patrolman Tucker was watching the spectators and employees leave the ground when he observed a wanted fugitive. Patrolman Tucker approached the suspect and attempted to arrest him. As Patrolman Tucker attempted to take the suspect into custody, a second man appeared and stabbed Patrolman Tucker in the head.

Patrolman Tucker died five days later from his wound.

Patrolman Tucker had served with the Memphis Police Department for seven years.

Patrolman Tucker was assigned to duty at a horse race track. After the races ended, Patrolman Tucker was watching the spectators and employees leave the ground when he observed a wanted fugitive. Patrolman Tucker approached the suspect and attempted to arrest him. As Patrolman Tucker attempted to take the suspect into custody, a second man appeared and stabbed Patrolman Tucker in the head.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-D56DCAC9
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

166 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Tucker gave the Memphis Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Memphis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Memphis, Shelby County, TN
Platform Identity mpd.shelby.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 5, 1860
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 32
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Stabbed
Weapon Edged weapon

Patrolman W. Stith Tucker 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 Memphis Police Department, 53 of 94 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 56.4% of this agency's fallen.

Memphis Police Department
53
of 94 officers
56.4% 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. W. Stith Tucker's cause is highlighted.

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

How W. Stith Tucker Compares

Age at Death
32
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
7
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. W. Stith Tucker is highlighted in May.

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. W. Stith Tucker was killed by edged weapon.

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

Incident Location