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Assistant Chief of Police

Charles Woodson Easley

Southport Police Department — Southport, NC

Felonious

End of Watch August 20, 1940

Age 58

The Vigil Panel 77 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Assistant Chief of Police Charles Easley succumbed to wounds sustained on July 14th, 1940, when he was struck on the head with a pipe while responding to a noise complaint. He and the Southport police chief were attacked by several men when they ordered one of them to turn down his music. Four men were arrested, convicted of manslaughter, and sentenced to seven to 10 years each.

Survivors

Assistant Chief Easley was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NC-97779783
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.
Assistant Chief of Police Easley served with the Southport Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Southport community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Assistant Chief of Police Easley.

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

Agency

Department Southport Police Department

Location Southport, NC

Platform Identity spd.brunswick.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 20, 1940

Age 58

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Blunt object; Pipe

Offender Sentenced to 7 to 10 years

Assistant Chief of Police Charles Woodson Easley 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%.

Southport Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

NC — Statewide

385

of 664 officers

58% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles Woodson Easley's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Charles Woodson Easley Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 7 to 10 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Woodson Easley is highlighted in Aug.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles Woodson Easley was killed by blunt object; pipe.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518