Memphis Police Department, Tennessee
End of Watch: Tuesday, July 17, 1900
Age: 78
Tour of Duty: 9 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 15, 1900
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Detective Joe Perkins succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained two earlier when he was shot during the arrest of a murder suspect wanted in Marshall County, Mississippi.
He and his partner went to a location where the suspect’s spouse was employed on McLemore Avenue near Cummings Street. As Detective Perkins entered the establishment, his partner secured a rear window. Upon entering the room where the assailant was hiding, he was shot. The detective returned fire but was not able to strike his target.
His partner waited for the shooter to come from hiding and engaged the suspect, shooting and killing him.
Detective Perkins was taken to his home where a doctor attended to him. He died from his wounds two days later.
Detective Perkins had served with the Memphis Police Department for two years and had previously served with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office for seven years.
Detective Perkins was survived by his wife and eight children. He was a Union Civil War Veteran having served as a private with the 10th Tennessee Infantry, Company A.