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Incident
Officer Edward Tarkington was shot and killed after responding to the report of a residential burglary at 12th Avenue North and Jo Johnston Avenue. While talking to the victim, the man's neighbor confronted the officer and began arguing with him. The neighbor had been arrested by Officer Tarkington twice before for operating illegal gambling games. The suspect produced a .45 caliber handgun and exchanged shots with Officer Tarkington, striking him in the neck. The suspect was also wounded in the exchange of gunfire. The suspect was never convicted of Officer Tarkington's murder but did receive a one-year federal sentence for being a felon carrying a weapon. Officer Tarkington had served with the Metro Nashville Police Department for over one year.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, mother, and brother, who later became an officer with the same agency.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Officer Tarkington gave the Metro Nashville Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Nashville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Tarkington.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Metro Nashville Police Department has lost 20 officers; 12 of them killed feloniously.
Edward is one of 498 officers killed feloniously in TN, 64.8% of the 769 remembered there.
Edward is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Edward is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1978, 2 officers at Metro Nashville Police Department were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1978, 7 officers in TN were killed feloniously, the 19th heaviest of 147 years on record. The heaviest was 1931, with 12.
In 1978, 121 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 43rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1978, 135 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 40th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Edward was 22. Of the 12 killed feloniously at Metro Nashville Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 24 and 35.3; the middle age was 28.5. Edward had served 1.2 years; the middle length of service was 4.5 years.
Edward was 22. Of the 449 killed feloniously in TN whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 50; the middle age was 41. Edward had served 1.2 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Edward was 22. 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. Edward had served 1.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Edward was 22. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Edward had served 1.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
December holds 8.3% of these deaths at Metro Nashville Police Department; July holds the most, 25%. Sundays: 16.7%.
December holds 10.2% of these deaths in TN, more than any other month. Sundays: 15.5%.
December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Sundays: 15.2%.
December holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 60% of all 20 deaths at Metro Nashville Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 41.7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 64.8% of all 769 deaths in TN, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 24.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Metro Nashville Police Department has 20 officers remembered here, Edward among them.
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Lonnie L. Harper
Aug 10, 1963
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Charles Reuben Byrd
Sep 26, 1963
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Carroll Gordon Bargatze
Oct 16, 1965
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Thomas E. Johnson
Jan 16, 1968
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Charles W. Thomasson
Mar 17, 1968
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Robert L. Williams
May 2, 1968
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Raymond Leroy Wheeler
Nov 6, 1973
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Curtis Jordan
Jan 13, 1976
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George Howard Hall
Feb 23, 1976
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Steven Ross Pinkelton
Jul 26, 1978
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Edward L. Tarkington
Dec 17, 1978
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John Wesley Smith, III
May 14, 1980
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William Lee Bowlin
Aug 4, 1982
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James Ronnie Woodard, Sr.
Oct 9, 1991
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Francis Paul Scurry
May 17, 1996
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Candace Renee Ripp
Dec 8, 2001
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Christy Jo Dedman
Jul 19, 2004
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Michael Alexander Petrina
May 10, 2014
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Eric Wayne Mumaw
Feb 2, 2017
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John Ralph Anderson, IV
Jul 4, 2019
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 45-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
19 officers from Metro Nashville Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
