Charlie Vestel Murphy

Gastonia Police Department — Gastonia, NC

Cardiac

End of Watch August 1, 1944

Age 35

The Vigil Panel 81 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Patrolman Charlie Murphy suffered a fatal heart attack following a violent struggle with a drunk suspect on West Airline Avenue. During the struggle Patrolman Murphy suffered a severe cut above his eye. He was able to subdue the man and place him in the patrol car and then suffered the heart attack.

Survivors

Patrolman Murphy was survived by his wife and is buried in Hollywood Cemetery, Gastonia, North Carolina.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NC-B05044F1
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 Murphy served with the Gastonia Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Gastonia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Murphy.

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

Agency

Department Gastonia Police Department

Location Gastonia, NC

Platform Identity gpd.gaston.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 1, 1944

Age 35

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Patrolman Charlie Vestel Murphy is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In NC, 33 of 664 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 5% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.

At Gastonia Police Department, 1 of 6 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 16.7% of this agency's fallen.

Gastonia Police Department

of 6 officers

16.7% Cardiac

NC — Statewide

of 664 officers

5% Cardiac

Nationwide

1,306

of 32,508 officers

4% Cardiac