Albert Nettle

Tempe Police Department — Tempe, AZ

Felonious

End of Watch May 19, 1919

Age 34

The Vigil Panel 37 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Night Officer Albert Nettle succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained two days earlier when he was shot during an escape attempt from the city jail, located in the old City Hall. The city marshal was returning four prisoners to their cells after supper when one of the men objected to being separated. He and the marshal began to struggle, at which time the marshal's gun fell from its holster. As one of the prisoners picked it up Officer Nettle entered the room and grabbed him from behind, pinning his arms down. As Officer Nettled held onto the man another prisoner approached him from behind, grabbed his gun from its holster, and opened fire. The first round struck the prisoner Officer Nettle was holding, killing him instantly. The man then shot Officer Nettle in the back as he bent over, with the round exiting his neck. The man then fled the scene but was arrested a short time later. Officer Nettle never regained consciousness before dying on May 19th, 1919. The prisoner who murdered Officer Nettle was sentenced to 10 years in prison for manslaughter.

Survivors

Officer Nettle was survived by his mother, five brothers, and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AZ-CD24D954
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.
Night Officer Nettle served with the Tempe Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Tempe community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Night Officer Nettle.

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

Agency

Department Tempe Police Department

Location Tempe, AZ

Platform Identity temppd.maricopa.az.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 19, 1919

Age 34

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Sentenced to 10 years

Night Officer Albert Nettle 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 AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Tempe Police Department, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.

Tempe Police Department

of 5 officers

80% Felonious

AZ — Statewide

204

of 330 officers

61.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious