Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Nicholas Galinger was struck and killed by a vehicle in the 2900 block of Hamill Road at 11:00 pm.
He was checking a manhole cover that had water overflowing from it when he was struck. Officer Galinger was transported to a local hospital where he died a short time later.
The vehicle fled the scene after striking him. The driver turned herself in two days later after being added to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's Top 10 Most Wanted List. She was charged with vehicular homicide. On September 25th, 2021, she was convicted of vehicular homicide by intoxication and seven other counts related to the crash. She was subsequently sentenced to 11 years in prison on February 7th, 2022.
Officer Galinger had just graduated from the police academy in January 2019 and was in field training at the time he was struck.
Survivors
He is survived by his son, daughter, parents, two sisters, two brothers, two grandmothers, and other relatives.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-2462392E- 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.
Police Officer Galinger served with the Chattanooga Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chattanooga community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Galinger.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Nicholas Scott Galinger 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 Chattanooga Police Department, 19 of 27 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Nicholas Scott Galinger's cause is highlighted.
How Nicholas Scott Galinger Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 11 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Nicholas Scott Galinger is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Nicholas Scott Galinger was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
26 officers from Chattanooga Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
