Tazewell Police Department, Virginia
End of Watch: Saturday, June 3, 1967
Age: 39
Tour of Duty: 7 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Stabbed
Date of Incident: April 11, 1967
Weapon Used: Edged weapon; Knife
Suspect Info: Charged with murder
Police Officer Jack Sargent succumbed to stab wounds sustained two months earlier when he interrupted two burglars breaking into a local restaurant. He had taken one of the suspects into custody and then pursued the second suspect, who had fled. When he caught the second suspect, the man pulled out a hunting knife and stabbed Officer Sargent in the stomach. The second suspect was apprehended two weeks later in Findlay, Ohio.
Officer Sargent was taken to a local hospital where he underwent two surgeries and remained until his death.
The knife wielding suspect, 19, was returned to Tazewell and charged with murder.
Officer Sargent was a US Navy veteran of WWII and had served with the Tazewell Police Department for 7 years. He is survived by his wife and three children.
On October 5th, 2012, Officer Sargent's great-nephew, Trooper Andrew Fox, was struck and killed by a vehicle in the line of duty while serving with the Virginia State Police.