J. M. Carmack

Kingsport Police Department — Kingsport, TN

Felonious

End of Watch June 25, 1919

Age 41

The Vigil Panel 37 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Special Officer J.M. Carmack was shot and killed while responding to reports of a drunk man creating a disturbance at a prayer meeting in a church on Sevier Terrace. The suspect was known to Officer Carmack and when he arrived at the scene he began talking to the man. The suspect suddenly shot Officer Carmack twice. Although mortally wounded, Officer Carmack was able to return fire but did not strike the suspect. He was taken to a local hospital where he died of his wounds early the next morning. The suspect, a 20-year-old man, was taken into custody a short time later. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison on October 29th, 1919. On February 5th, 1933, he was stabbed to death by a fellow inmate at Brushy Mountain State Prison. Officer Carmack was the chief engineer of the Kingsport Fire Department. He served as a special officer for the police department. He was survived by his wife, daughter, and seven siblings. One of his brothers was the Kingsport police chief.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, and seven siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TN-2F173882
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.
Special Officer Carmack served with the Kingsport Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Kingsport community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Carmack.

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

Agency

Department Kingsport Police Department

Location Kingsport, TN

Platform Identity kpd.sullivan.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 25, 1919

Age 41

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Pistol

Offender Murdered in prison

Special Officer J. M. Carmack 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 Kingsport Police Department, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.

Kingsport Police Department

of 5 officers

80% Felonious

TN — Statewide

498

of 769 officers

64.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious