Assistant Chief Thomas S. Church, Johnson City Police Department, Tennessee

Assistant Chief Thomas S. Church

Johnson City Police Department, Tennessee

End of Watch Sunday, January 8, 1928

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Thomas S. Church

Assistant Chief Thomas Church was shot and killed when he and another officer attempted to arrest a man for drunkenness around 11:30 a.m.

The man resisted arrest and displayed a revolver. The two officers attempted to disarm him, but he fired, striking Assistant Chief Church in the abdomen.

Despite being mortally wounded, Assistant Chief Church returned fire and killed the suspect. The suspect had been convicted of killing Policeman William F. Campbell of the Bristol Police Department, Virginia, in 1908.

Assistant Chief Church's last request before dying was that he be buried in his uniform. He was survived by his wife.

Bio

Age 47
Tour Not available
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; Revolver
Offender Shot and killed

arrest attempt, convicted felon, Impaired Driver

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Most Recent Reflection

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Thanks from me and my family. Assistant Chief Thomas S Church is my Great Grandfather. Ive only seen one picture of him my entire life and it's since been lost after the death of his son my Grandfather Franklin Eugene Church in 1992. Reading the reflections of my Great Grandfather means a lot to me.

Sincerely on this day 7/22/20
Chris Mitchell

Christopher Mitchell great grandson

July 22, 2020