Walter H. McEwen

Memphis Police Department — Memphis, TN

Felonious

End of Watch December 30, 1929

Age 40

Badge 82

The Vigil Panel 58 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 93

Incident

Patrolman Walter McEwen was shot and killed when he tried to arrest an armed suspect. At approximately 11:00 am, Patrolman McEwen was walking his beat on Calhoun Street when he observed a suspect armed with a gun. As Patrolman McEwen approached the suspect the man fled on foot. Patrolman McEwen caught the suspect and a struggle ensued, but the man broke loose and again fled on foot. Patrolman McEwen drew his pistol and pursued the suspect again. When the suspect turned down a dead-end alley behind 512 St. Martin Street, he attempted to climb a fence. Patrolman McEwen tried to pull the suspect down from the fence, striking the suspect several times with his drawn pistol. A struggle again ensued, and the suspect was able to overpower Patrolman McEwen and gained control of his pistol. The suspect fired two shots, hitting Patrolman McEwen in the eye with one shot, killing him. The suspect then fled and was never identified or apprehended.

Survivors

Patrolman McEwen was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TN-03F0A2D6
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 McEwen served with the Memphis Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Memphis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman McEwen.

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

Agency

Department Memphis Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Memphis, Shelby County, TN

Platform Identity mpd.shelby.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 30, 1929

Age 40

Badge Number 82

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Patrolman Walter H. McEwen 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

of 94 officers

56.4% Felonious

TN — Statewide

498

of 769 officers

64.8% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious