Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable Moore Wisdom was stabbed to death by a prisoner he was escorting to the town jail.
A citizen had obtained a warrant for the man for engaging in an illegal game of sleight of hand involving a thimble and a ball. Constable Moore located the subject three miles north of town, and the two rode back to town on Constable Moore's horse.
As they arrived at the jail, the subject suddenly produced a long knife and stabbed Constable Wisdom several times, inflicting fatal wounds. The man was charged with murder, and an accomplice was charged as an accessory to murder for having given him the knife.
Constable Wisdom was a McNairy County constable assigned to the town of Purdy.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents and several siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-8AA90849- 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
192 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Constable Wisdom served with the McNairy County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Selmer community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable Moore C. Wisdom 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 McNairy County Constable's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Moore C. Wisdom's cause is highlighted.
How Moore C. Wisdom Compares
Offender Outcome
Charged with murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Moore C. Wisdom is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Moore C. Wisdom was killed by edged weapon; knife.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from McNairy County Constable's Office are honored on badge.nw.
