Roll of Honor
John Ralph Anderson, IV
Incident
Police Officer John Anderson was killed in a vehicle crash at the intersection of Woodland Street and Interstate Drive.
The vehicle that struck him had just fled from other officers who attempted to make a traffic stop on it. The officer terminated the stop when the vehicle fled and did not pursue it. Officer Anderson was en route to assist on an unrelated call involving a pedestrian on the interstate when the fleeing vehicle ran a red light and struck his patrol car.
Officer Anderson's patrol car became engulfed in flames. The passenger in the fleeing vehicle suffered life-threatening injuries. The juvenile driver of the vehicle sustained minor injuries and was charged with vehicular homicide. He was convicted of vehicular homicide and other charges and sentenced to six years in prison and six years probation.
Officer Anderson was a U.S Marine Corps Reserve veteran and had served with the Metro Nashville Police Department for four years and was assigned to the Central Precinct.
Survivors
He is survived by his son, mother, stepfather, father, stepmother, brother, step-brother, two stepsisters, grandparents, and girlfriend.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-89BAFA84- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer Anderson gave the Metro Nashville Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Nashville community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John Ralph Anderson, IV served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer John Ralph Anderson, IV 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 Metro Nashville Police Department, 12 of 20 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Ralph Anderson, IV's cause is highlighted.
How John Ralph Anderson, IV Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentence to 6 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Ralph Anderson, IV is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Ralph Anderson, IV was killed by automobile.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
19 officers from Metro Nashville Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
