Officer Michael Patrick Jenkins, Bessemer City Police Department, North Carolina

Officer Michael Patrick Jenkins

Bessemer City Police Department, North Carolina

End of Watch Tuesday, May 2, 1972

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Michael Patrick Jenkins

Officer Jenkins was shot and killed after stopping two men in a vehicle for having a defective tail light.

When he approached the vehicle he asked for the driver's license and registration. The driver gave Officer Jenkins the registration but not the license. When Officer Jenkins asked again, the driver produced a .22 caliber handgun and shot him twice. The driver then exited the vehicle, took Officer Jenkins' duty weapon, and shot him several more times. Backup officers found Officer Jenkins still holding the registration card.

As officers began a search of the area for the suspects, Officer Jenkins' killer opened fire on them from a house near the scene of the shooting. As the officers returned fire the suspect shot and killed himself. His companion later surrendered to officers and was charged with accessory to murder.

Officer Jenkins had been with the agency for six weeks and was survived by his wife.

Bio

Age 21
Tour 1 month, 2 weeks
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; .22 caliber
Offender Committed suicide

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Most Recent Reflection

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Mike was a wonderful man and police officer. Much to my dismay, the memorial honoring Mike and all the other memorials to slain officers are no longer on display in Pigeon Forge. The Carbo Museum does not exist any longer. We do not know what has happened to belongings of Officer Jenkins. His windowbox displayed his service revolver, the weapon that took his life, his badge, whistle and other things. If you are able to help locate these important items that should be on display in a police museum, please leave a reflection or contact me via email. It is shameful that these officers lost their lives in the line of duty and now to have their memorials removed without the families being notified. I spoke with a Pigeon Forge officer this year when we went to visit the museum (July 2011) and he said the owner, Mr. Carbo, sold the property but the officer did not know what happened to the memorials. The officer did not know the year the property was sold.

Bevely "Robbie" Neal Lovelace
sister-in-law

August 7, 2011