Samuel Houston Childress

Bristol Police Dept. — Bristol, TN

Felonious

End of Watch August 6, 1903

Age 33

The Vigil Panel 18 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Patrolman Samuel Childress was shot and killed by a police officer from Bristol, Virginia, who was angry that Patrolman Childress would not be his partner that evening in the border town. The dispute stemmed from a previous night when the suspect officer refused to patrol with Patrolman Childress.

The officer who shot Patrolman Childress fled the scene. He remained at large for seven years before being arrested in Couer d'Alene, Idaho, in May 1910. He was extradited to Tennessee where he was subsequently sentenced to 20 years.

Patrolman Childress was survived by his wife and child.

Survivors

Patrolman Childress was survived by his wife and child.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TN-4A8AA43E
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 Childress served with the Bristol Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Bristol community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Childress.

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

Agency

Department Bristol Police Dept.

Location Bristol, TN

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

Service Record

End of Watch August 6, 1903

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Sentenced to 20 years

Patrolman Samuel Houston Childress 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 Bristol Police Dept., 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Bristol Police Dept.

of 4 officers

75% Felonious

TN — Statewide

498

of 769 officers

64.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious