Matthew W. Murphy

Columbus Police Dept. — Columbus, GA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch December 26, 1874

Age 32

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

The Vigil Panel 5 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 25

Incident

Chief Matthew Murphy was shot and killed as he and several Columbus police officers attempted to arrest two brothers on Crawford Street near the Springer Opera House for using obscene language. As the officers talked with the two, one of the men suddenly pulled a gun but was disarmed by one of the officers. The gun was handed to Chief Murphy but the man suddenly pulled a second gun from his coat. Chief Murphy and the man both fired at the same time and Chief Murphy was struck in the chest. The chief's shot missed the suspect. The other officers fired at the fleeing suspects, striking the shooter in the back. The two were arrested and the wounded suspect died a short time later. The remaining suspect was later hanged for his involvement in the incident. At the time of the incident the Columbus Police Department did not have an acting chief. Chief Murphy, who had also served in the Confederate Army, was a marshal for the Muscogee County Marshal's Office. That office was responsible for overseeing the operations of the police department, and Chief Murphy was assigned as the City Marshal for Columbus.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-GA-0DC607A5
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Chief of Police Murphy gave the Columbus Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Columbus Police Dept.

Location Columbus, GA

Platform Identity cpd.muscogee.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 26, 1874

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Shot and killed

Military Service

Matthew W. Murphy served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Chief of Police Matthew W. Murphy 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Columbus Police Dept., 19 of 26 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 73.1% of this agency's fallen.

Columbus Police Dept.

of 26 officers

73.1% Felonious

GA — Statewide

548

of 903 officers

60.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious