Sergeant J. L. Bell
Memphis Police Department
Tennessee
End of Watch: Thursday, September 1, 1921

Biographical Info
Age: Not available
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Stabbed
Date of Incident: Thursday, September 1, 1921
Weapon Used: Edged weapon; Knife
Suspect Info: Three convicted of murder

Sergeant Bell was stabbed to death while chasing a suspect who had taken his gun. Sergeant Bell was driving past the corner of McLemore Street and Third Avenue when he observed a male inside a cafe creating a disturbance. Sergeant Bell entered the Cafe and placed the man under arrest. While attempting to take the suspect outside, another man grabbed his service weapon and ran outside.

Sergeant Bell ran outside and chased the suspect in an attempting to get his gun back. While he was chasing the suspect, anther man grabbed Sergeant Bell from behind and cut his throat and stabbed him several times. Sergeant Bell staggered across the street, where he fell to the ground. He was rushed to the hospital, but died a few hours later on the operating table.

Before he died, Sergeant Bell was able to identify the suspect who stabbed him in a photograph. All three suspects were apprehended within 12 hours and all were convicted of murder.