Roll of Honor
John Franklin Fesperman
Incident
Rural Police Officer Fesperman was shot and killed while filling in for another officer who was sick.
Officer Fesperman and other officers were en route to a liquor raid on a home at the Wakefield Farm off of Providence Road. When the officers arrived at the house, they located almost 100 people. As they began to search the people in the crowd, officers found liquor on one of the men, who was then placed into Officer Fesperman's custody.
Moments later, the man shot Officer Fesperman in the head and fled the scene. Officer Fesperman was taken to Presbyterian Hospital, where he died.
The suspect was arrested a short time later by the Charlotte police chief. He was convicted of Officer Fesperman's murder and sentenced to death. His sentence was later commuted to life. He was pardoned on August 18, 1942, by Governor Melville Broughton.
Officer Fesperman had been appointed to the police force on the day he was killed.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-758E43F0- 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.
Rural Police Officer Fesperman served with the Mecklenburg County Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Charlotte community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Rural Police Officer Fesperman.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Rural Police Officer John Franklin Fesperman 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 NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Mecklenburg County Police Department, 6 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Franklin Fesperman's cause is highlighted.
How John Franklin Fesperman Compares
Offender Outcome
Pardoned in 1942
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Franklin Fesperman is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Franklin Fesperman was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Mecklenburg County Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
