Sergeant Vincent Tyrone Tatum, Nevada Department of Corrections, Nevada

Sergeant Vincent Tyrone Tatum

Nevada Department of Corrections, Nevada

End of Watch Thursday, September 2, 1982

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Vincent Tyrone Tatum

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.

Bio

Age 25
Tour 4 years
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Never identified

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I greatly appreciate this memorial to Sgt. Tatum. While I became employed with the Nevada Department of Corrections (formerly Dept of Prisons), in 1987, there were many negative rumors still circulating the "prison grapevine" as to the passing of Sgt. Tatum.

I am absolutely thrilled to now see that the "Officer Down Memorial Page" has put the "rumor mill" at the Southern Desert Correctional Center where it concerns Sgt. Tatum.

However, there is still much work to be done. There is another corrections officer by the name of Cedric D. Porter who died in the line of duty over twenty years ago and has still been wrongfully saddled with shame.

I'm very hopeful, likened to the Sgt. Tatum's circumstances, that the board of the "Officer Down Memorial Page" will see through the mounds of corruption that has kept this fallen officer, Cedric D. Porter his rights to "rest in peace" and be honored and respected, most appropriately.

We should keep in mind that Officer Cedric Porter was given a paupers funeral. An absolutely horrible ending to the life of both a good man, and a good officer.

Corrections Officer Bradley D. Chapline
Nevada Department of Corrections - Southern Desert Correctional Center

July 1, 2018