Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Houston Mitchell and Deputy Sheriff Thomas McDermott were shot and killed while attempting to stop illegal gambling in Shelby County and Memphis.
They were raiding a club at 42 DeSoto Avenue when both deputies were shot and killed.
More than 40 suspects were arrested during the raid. Five were charged with murder. Only one was tried for murder and he was acquitted.
Deputy Mitchell had served with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office for five years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-16F82546- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Mitchell gave the Shelby County Sheriff's Office 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Memphis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Mitchell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Houston Mitchell 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Shelby County Sheriff's Office, 13 of 21 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Houston Mitchell's cause is highlighted.
How Houston Mitchell Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Houston Mitchell is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
20 officers from Shelby County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
