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Polk Alonzo Caraway
Agency patch
Patrolman

Polk Alonzo Caraway

Memphis Police Department — Memphis, TN
Felonious
United States flag Tennessee flag
End of Watch August 10, 1921
Age 23
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo
The Vigil Panel 41 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 93

Incident

Patrolman Polk Caraway was shot and killed by four suspects who attempted to rob the payroll car from the Ford Motor Company. Lieutenant Vincent Lucarini was shot and killed a short time later while pursuing the suspects into Collierville. At approximately 9:45 am four men attempted to rob the payroll car of the Ford Motor Company at 495 Union Street. The suspect opened fire as the payroll was being brought into a building. Patrolman Caraway was instantly killed and his partner was wounded. A Ford Motor Company guard was also killed. Lieutenant Lucarini was at Police Headquarters when the alarm was sounded. He flagged down a car driven by a civilian and, along with two other officers, pursued the suspects along Poplar Avenue. As the car entered the town of Collierville, they were met with a hail of gunfire by a posse who thought they were the suspects. Lieutenant Lucarini was struck and killed by one shot. Later that night three suspects were arrested. Three days later the fourth suspect was arrested. All four suspects were convicted of murder and attempted robbery. They were subsequently sentenced to life in prison. Patrolman Caraway served with the Memphis Police Department for a year and a half.

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

You barely got started.
Patrolman Caraway gave the Memphis Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Memphis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Caraway.

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

Agency

Department Memphis Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Memphis, Shelby County, TN
Platform Identity mpd.shelby.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 10, 1921
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo
Age 23
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Polk is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1921, 248 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Polk was 23. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Polk had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Memphis Police Department has 94 officers remembered here, Polk among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Polk Alonzo Caraway

Memphis Police Department · End of Watch August 10, 1921

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 30-W

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