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John C. Brinkley
Agency patch
Sergeant

John C. Brinkley

Memphis Police Department — Memphis, TN
Felonious
United States flag Tennessee flag
End of Watch June 13, 1919
Age 32
Badge 130
The Vigil Panel 37 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 93

Incident

Sergeant John Brinkley was shot and killed while chasing a suspect who had shot and wounded another officer earlier in the day. Officers were sent to the Overton Park Market to investigate a report that a man was selling stolen chickens. After questing the man the officers decided to take him back to the station house for further questioning. The suspect asked if he could put his chicken back into his wagon. The officers allowed him to do so, but while placing the chicken into the wagon, the man retrieved a pistol. The man opened fire, wounding two officers. The man was also wounded but managed to flee. While the store owner called the police to report the shooting, a group of civilians chased the suspect. The civilians were unable to apprehend the man, but the suspect's car was stopped by a group of officers at Waldran Street and Jackson Street. The suspect exited his vehicle and fled on foot. Sergeant Brinkley, along with several other officers, pursued the suspect while exchanging gunfire. During the gun battle, Sergeant Brinkley was shot and killed at the corner of Jackson Avenue and Breedlove Street. The suspect was also shot and subsequently arrested by other officers. He was convicted of murder and executed on September 3, 1920.

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.
Sergeant Brinkley served with the Memphis Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Memphis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Brinkley.

— 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 June 13, 1919
Age 32
Badge Number 130
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John 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 1919, 212 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 7th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 32. 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.

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

When

June holds 8.1% 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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Sergeant John C. Brinkley

Memphis Police Department · End of Watch June 13, 1919

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 38-W

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