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Incident
Deputy Sheriff Edward Stelling succumbed to injuries sustained on July 1st, 1945, when he was shot with a shotgun at the intersection of Mount Olive Road and Sydney Street.
He and another deputy had responded to a disturbance at a local business where a man was waving a shotgun. When Deputy Stelling arrived he was shot in the arm and suffered a wound that required the arm's amputation. He succumbed to complications of the wound on July 5th, 1945.
The other deputy was able to return fire and kill the suspect.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Stelling gave the Shelby County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Memphis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Stelling.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Shelby County Sheriff's Office has lost 21 officers; 13 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 1945, 1 officer at Shelby County Sheriff's Office was killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 10 years on record. The heaviest was 1904, with 2.
In 1945, 1 officer in TN was killed feloniously, the 104th heaviest of 147 years on record. The heaviest was 1931, with 12.
In 1945, 68 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 105th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1945, 70 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 108th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Edward was 31. Of the 12 killed feloniously at Shelby County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 31.8 and 50.5; the middle age was 42.5. Edward had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 4.6 years.
Edward was 31. 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 2 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Edward was 31. 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 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Edward was 31. 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 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 30.8% of these deaths at Shelby County Sheriff's Office, more than any other month. Thursdays: 7.7%.
July holds 8.8% of these deaths in TN; December holds the most, 10.2%. Thursdays: 12.7%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
July holds 9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 61.9% of all 21 deaths at Shelby County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 64.8% of all 769 deaths in TN, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause.
His people
Shelby County Sheriff's Office has 21 officers remembered here, Edward among them.
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Houston Mitchell Jul 11, 1904
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Thomas J. McDermott Jul 12, 1904
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W. H. Lucy
Feb 25, 1910
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James C. Nelson Oct 29, 1917
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George Taylor Reeves
Nov 30, 1920
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Fielding F. Applebury
Dec 17, 1920
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Charles C. Wortham
Oct 7, 1925
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Edward William Stelling
Jul 5, 1945
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Olney Benton Crawford
Mar 24, 1946
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Deadrick A. Taylor
Apr 19, 1996
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Sherry Hopper Goodman
Jul 26, 1996
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Rupert Holliday Peete, Jr.
Mar 8, 2000
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George Monroe Selby
Dec 4, 2002
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Timothy Howard Dunn
Oct 29, 2004
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Ronald L. Ray
Dec 17, 2013
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Jeremy Devaughn Smith
Apr 21, 2020
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Anthony Terrance Jackson, Sr.
Dec 25, 2020
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Willie Lois Dortch
Apr 9, 2021
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Ray William McCrary, Jr.
Jul 20, 2021
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Lakiesha Lashay Tucker
Aug 25, 2021
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Bridgette Lachelle Hunter
Feb 17, 2022
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 13-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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