Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman W. Wright and Officer John Ryan were killed when their patrol car drove off of a bridge near Brentwood and fell 30 feet to the ground. Shortly before 10:00 a.m., the officers were on patrol while Patrolman Wright was also learning how to drive the patrol car. Officer Ryan had exited the vehicle to crank the car after it stopped. Patrolman Wright moved forward and turned right onto the bridge when he threw the clutch and lept forward into the bridge railing. The bridge was temporary without proper railings built while the Lewisville & Nashville & Lewisburg & Northern Railroads expanded the railroad. Patrolman Wright died on the scene, and Officer Ryan succumbed to his injuries the following day. Patrolman Wright had served with the Nashville City Police Department for ten years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-42D96117- 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 Wright gave the Nashville City Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Nashville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Wright.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman W. I. Wright 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 TN, 191 of 769 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 24.8% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Nashville City Police Department, 6 of 22 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 27.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. W. I. Wright's cause is highlighted.
How W. I. Wright Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. W. I. Wright is highlighted in Mar.
Others Who Wore This Badge
21 officers from Nashville City Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
