Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Causey was stabbed to death by a man he was attempting to arrest off duty.
Patrolman Causey had entered a barber shop on Main Street at Gayosa Street, when he noticed a suspect who had escaped his custody three weeks earlier. He asked the suspect to step outside. Patrolman Causey was questioning the suspect when the suspect pulled out a knife and stabbed Patrolman Causey in the heart, killing him
Patrolman Causey had served with the Memphis Police Department for 11 years.
Patrolman Causey had entered a barber shop on Main Street at Gayosa Street, when he noticed a suspect who had escaped his custody three weeks earlier. He asked the suspect to step outside. Patrolman Causey was questioning the suspect when the suspect pulled out a knife and stabbed Patrolman Causey in the heart, killing him
Patrolman Causey, rest in peace.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis January 16th, 2020
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-TN-F6AE27BF- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
165 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Causey gave the Memphis Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Memphis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman John W. Causey 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 Memphis Police Department, 53 of 94 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 56.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John W. Causey's cause is highlighted.
How John W. Causey Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John W. Causey is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John W. Causey was killed by edged weapon; knife.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
93 officers from Memphis Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
