Jerrell P. Vaughan

North Little Rock Police Dept. — N Little Rock, AR

Felonious

End of Watch April 16, 1963

The Vigil Panel 98 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Patrolman Jerrell Vaughan was shot and killed after he and another officer stopped two men in a vehicle on State Highway 130 (modern-day U.S. Route 165) three miles southeast of the city. The two men in the vehicle had been involved in a barroom brawl earlier in the night. As Patrolman Vaughan approached the vehicle he was shot once in the chest. Despite being mortally wounded, he was able to return fire, striking the suspect five times in the chest. The subject survived, was later convicted of first-degree murder, and sentenced to death. He was later awarded a new trial that resulted in a second murder conviction and was sentenced to life. In 1975 he escaped from prison. He was captured five years later in South Lake Tahoe, California. In 1985 he was released from prison when evidence surfaced revealing that Patrolman Vaughan may have been killed by the man's companion.

Survivors

Patrolman Vaughan is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AR-C7B66A1E
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 Vaughan served with the North Little Rock Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the North Little Rock community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Vaughan.

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

Agency

Department North Little Rock Police Dept.

Location N Little Rock, AR

Platform Identity nlrpd.pulaski.ar.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 16, 1963

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Released in 1985

Patrolman Jerrell P. Vaughan 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 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 12.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At North Little Rock Police Dept., 2 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40% of this agency's fallen.

North Little Rock Police Dept.

of 5 officers

40% Felonious

AR — Statewide

249

of 372 officers

66.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious