Incident
Officer Jimmy Bland was killed when his police motorcycle was struck by a drunk driver. The suspect served a 15-year prison sentence and was released in 1981. Officer Bland had served with the Savannah Police Department for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Bland gave the Savannah Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Savannah community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Bland.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Savannah Police Department has lost 31 officers; 9 of them lost to accidents.
Jimmy is one of 264 officers lost to accidents in GA, 29.2% of the 905 remembered there.
Jimmy is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Jimmy is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1966, 1 officer at Savannah Police Department was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1966, 5 officers in GA were lost to accidents, the 9th heaviest of 98 years on record. The heaviest was 1968, with 8.
In 1966, 77 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 31st heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1966, 95 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 27th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Jimmy was 26. Of the 9 lost to accidents at Savannah Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 27 and 36; the middle age was 34. Jimmy had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Jimmy was 26. Of the 251 lost to accidents in GA whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 47; the middle age was 36. Jimmy had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Jimmy was 26. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Jimmy had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Jimmy was 26. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Jimmy had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
September holds 11.1% of these deaths at Savannah Police Department; December holds the most, 22.2%. Mondays: 11.1%.
September holds 7.2% of these deaths in GA; December holds the most, 12.5%. Mondays: 8%.
September holds 9.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 13.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 29% of all 31 deaths at Savannah Police Department, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 11.1% of these deaths.
Accident deaths account for 29.2% of all 905 deaths in GA, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 14.8% of these deaths.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 6.9% of these deaths.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 5.6% of these deaths.
His people
Savannah Police Department has 31 officers remembered here, Jimmy among them.
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James Foley Apr 7, 1866
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Edward G. McNichols Apr 7, 1866
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Samuel Bryson Nov 4, 1868
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Robert A. Reid Nov 5, 1868
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John D. Sullivan Dec 25, 1869
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Habersham H. Harvey Oct 20, 1881
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Jensen Christian Neve
Feb 10, 1894
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Harry B. Fender Feb 16, 1901
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Frank V. Hansen Jun 17, 1910
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James McGinley Feb 20, 1916
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Walter H. Marlow
Mar 27, 1921
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Philip E. Steeves Mar 22, 1922
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William F. Hodges Aug 10, 1924
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William C. Ellzey Sep 26, 1926
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O. Raymond Hughes Aug 18, 1928
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Samuel Marion Webb, Sr.
Apr 14, 1929
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Herbert V. Fitzgerald Aug 1, 1929
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James E. Roughen
Jan 22, 1934
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Earl W. Eubanks
Dec 23, 1941
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James Walter Todd
Dec 12, 1950
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H. Dan Rolison
Sep 25, 1960
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Jimmy Lee Bland
Sep 26, 1966
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Frank W. Mobley Jul 20, 1968
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Robert D. Watford Sep 18, 1969
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James Franklin Marchbanks
Jun 30, 1976
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John Joseph Brown
Apr 14, 1981
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Mark Allen MacPhail, Sr.
Aug 19, 1989
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Willie Samuel Smith
Mar 11, 1994
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Joseph Lupus
May 22, 2018
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Anthony Lawrence Christie
May 25, 2018
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Kelvin Bernard Ansari
May 11, 2019
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 46-E
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