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Neal R. Courtney
Agency patch
Police Officer

Neal R. Courtney

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department — St. Louis, MO
Felonious
United States flag Missouri flag
End of Watch April 26, 1946
Age 36
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
The Vigil Panel 82 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 175

Incident

Police Officer Neal Courtney was stabbed to death by a 71-year-old vagrant near a vacant lot in the 1500 block of North Broadway. Officer Courtney had instructed the man to extinguish a small campfire that the man had set. When the man refused Officer Courtney began to put it out with his foot. The man picked up a lighted stick and struck Officer Courtney in the face. After a short pursuit, a struggle ensued and the suspect produced a small penknife. During the struggle Officer Courtney received numerous stab wounds to his face and neck and his jugular vein was severed. The suspect was apprehended by a watchman who witnessed the incident. The suspect was found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to a mental institution. He died in the Fulton State Mental Hospital on January 3, 1968. Officer Courtney was survived by his wife and 6-year-old daughter. His father and brother were also members of the police department.

Survivors

Officer Courtney was survived by his wife and 6-year-old daughter.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Courtney gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Courtney.

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

Agency

Department St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department
Type Police Department
Location St. Louis, City of Saint Louis, MO
Platform Identity stlopd.saintlouis.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 26, 1946
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Age 36
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Edged weapon

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1946, 91 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Neal was 36. 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. Neal had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

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 edged weapon, in 2.2% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Neal among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Neal R. Courtney

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department · End of Watch April 26, 1946

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 50-W

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