Chattanooga Police Department, Tennessee
End of Watch: Thursday, January 18, 1979
Age: 69
Tour of Duty: 32 years
Badge Number: 238
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 18, 1979
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Found incompetent
Officer Wilcox was shot and killed while on foot patrol in a city park around 9:30 p.m.
Other officers began searching for him after locating an unsecured portion of the park that should have been secured by Officer Wilcox. His body was found in a bathroom with a wound inflicted with his own weapon. A suspect was later charged with the murder after being taken into custody on an unrelated charge.
The suspect was found mentally incompetent to stand trial.
Officer Wilcox had been with the agency for 32 years.