West Columbia Police Department, South Carolina
End of Watch: Friday, July 22, 1949
Age: 28
Tour of Duty: 3 years
Badge Number: Not available
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.