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Police Officer Joseph Seawell Gunnell | West Columbia Police Department, South Carolina
West Columbia Police Department, South Carolina

Police Officer

Joseph Seawell Gunnell

West Columbia Police Department, South Carolina

End of Watch: Friday, July 22, 1949

Biographical Info

Age: 28
Tour of Duty: 3 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Automobile crash
Date of Incident: July 22, 1949
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available

Officer Joseph Gunnell was killed in an automobile accident while he and another officer responded to reports of two men sleeping in the roadway.

As the officers came upon the scene, the other officer failed to see the men in the roadway until the last moment and swerved to avoid striking them.

The vehicle went down an embankment and into a ditch. Officer Gunnell suffered fatal injuries in the accident.

Officer Gunnell had served with the West Columbia Police Department for 3 years. He was survived by his wife and young daughter.