West Palm Beach Police Department, Florida
End of Watch: Saturday, March 28, 1959
Age: 35
Tour of Duty: 4 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Motorcycle crash
Date of Incident: March 28, 1959
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Police Officer Festus Tatum was killed in a motorcycle crash while escorting a funeral procession on Parker Avenue at Hampton Road.
The last car in the procession had just cleared an intersection and Officer Tatum was passing the procession to clear the next intersection. As he did so a boy riding a motor scooter pulled out of Hampton Road, passing through the procession, and collided with Officer Tatum. He was thrown into a tree and suffered severe head injuries.
Officer Tatum had served with the West Palm Beach Police Department for four years.