James Harper

Patrolman James Harper was killed when his patrol car was struck by a vehicle being operated by an intoxicated driver. He and his partner observed a speeding car and were attempting to stop it when the suspect's vehicle turned in front of their patrol car at the intersection of S Bellevue Boulevard (modern-day Elvis Presley Boulevard) and Ledger Road at 2:05 am. Patrolman Harper was transported to the hospital where he died several hours later. The vehicle that the officers were chasing was being driven by a man rushing his pregnant wife to the hospital because she had gone into labor. He was not charged. Patrolman Harper had served with the Memphis Police Department for one year.