Nevada Department of Corrections, Nevada
End of Watch: Thursday, September 2, 1982
Age: 25
Tour of Duty: 4 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 2, 1982
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Never identified
Sergeant Vincent Tatum was abducted, beaten, and shot four times in the head after finishing his shift at the Southern Desert Correctional Center. His body was found in the desert near Las Vegas a month later.
He was conducting an internal investigation involving contraband being smuggled into the prison by prison employees. It is believed that he was murdered to hamper the investigation.
No arrests were ever made and his murder remains unsolved.
Sergeant Tatum had served with the Nevada Department of Corrections for four years. He was survived by his wife and one child.