Johnson City Police Department, Tennessee
End of Watch Sunday, January 8, 1928
Add to My HeroesThomas S. Church
Assistant Chief Thomas Church was shot and killed when he and another officer attempted to arrest a man for drunkenness around 11:30 a.m.
The man resisted arrest and displayed a revolver. The two officers attempted to disarm him, but he fired, striking Assistant Chief Church in the abdomen.
Despite being mortally wounded, Assistant Chief Church returned fire and killed the suspect. The suspect had been convicted of killing Policeman William F. Campbell of the Bristol Police Department, Virginia, in 1908.
Assistant Chief Church's last request before dying was that he be buried in his uniform. He was survived by his wife.
Bio
- Age 47
- Tour Not available
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Handgun; Revolver
- Offender Shot and killed
Related LODD Deaths
Policeman William F. Campbell
Bristol Police Department, VA
EOW: July 2, 1908
Most Recent Reflection
View all 5 ReflectionsThanks from me and my family. Assistant Chief Thomas S Church is my Great Grandfather. Ive only seen one picture of him my entire life and it's since been lost after the death of his son my Grandfather Franklin Eugene Church in 1992. Reading the reflections of my Great Grandfather means a lot to me.
Sincerely on this day 7/22/20
Chris Mitchell
Christopher Mitchell great grandson
July 22, 2020
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