National Police Week: 4 TN officers killed as trends in line of duty deaths change
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Every year in May, the country takes a week to commemorate the law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Many ceremonies and vigils are already underway for National Police Week, which falls during the calendar week of May 15, as was proclaimed by President John F. Kennedy in 1962.
This year’s week of remembrance comes amid changing trends in line of duty deaths, showing both troubling and encouraging signs for the field. So far in 2024, there have already been 58 law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty — four of which have been Tennessee officers.
National Peace Officers Memorial Day 2023: 11 TN officers killed in line of duty
About 38% of deaths nationwide have been from gunfire, and another 38% have been attributed to traffic accidents, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP), a nonprofit organization that tracks line of duty deaths in the United States.
Line of duty deaths also include medical incidents such as COVID-19 related deaths and heart attacks suffered while on duty, as well other causes like falling objects or fire-related incidents.
Statistics from 2023 show line of duty deaths appear to be decreasing, but that data may be an anomaly, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. There were 137 law enforcement officers who died last year — an about 39% decrease from 2022.
Most causes that are tracked also decreased, including the number of officers shot and killed. But while only 47 officers died from gunfire last year, a record number were wounded after being shot in the line of duty, according to the National Fraternal Order of Police.
More police officers die by suicide than in line-of-duty, data shows
Of the 378 officers shot in the line of duty last year, the organization said 115 were “ambush-style attacks,” resulting in 20 deaths. According to the FOP, medical advancements may be a factor in why fewer officers died from their injuries.
One of the most substantial reductions last year was in the number of COVID-19 related line of duty deaths, which fell from 74 in 2022 to five in 2023 — something that officials believe could have been a large factor in the overall decrease.
Notably, traffic fatalities also dropped nearly 27% compared to last year. In a report released earlier this year, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund said that particular stat is “welcome news for law enforcement agencies nationwide.”
Tennessee law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty
In Tennessee, most of the line of duty deaths so far this year have been in the eastern part of the state, with exception to the most recent incident involving an officer out of Memphis. Officer Joseph McKinney was shot and killed around 2 a.m. on Friday, April 12.
SEE ALSO: Officials honor Memphis police officer killed in shootout
According to ODMP, McKinney and other officers were investigating a report of a “suspicious vehicle” at the intersection of Charter Avenue and Horn Lake Road. As they were approaching the car, the occupants reportedly opened fire on them.
Officers returned fire before the car took off, leading to a pursuit that ended with two wounded suspects being taken into custody. One of the suspects later died. McKinney and two other officers were also injured during the exchange of gunfire.
McKinney, who was only 26 years old, was taken to Regional One Hospital, where he later succumbed to his wounds. He served with the Memphis Police Department for over three years before his death.
Deputy killed in Blount County shooting, search for suspect continues
“We stand with those families who’ve been lost to violence,” Memphis Mayor Paul Young said after the shooting. “To MPD, our officers are hurting, our heart goes out to them, and their families and we mourn together.”
The Blount County Sheriff’s Office also lost one of its deputies to gunfire during a traffic stop on Feb. 8. According to ODMP, Deputy Greg McCowan and his partner pulled over a vehicle for erratic driving around 9 p.m. on Sevierville Road in Maryville.
However, the driver reportedly refused to cooperate and shot McCowan and the other deputy in the leg. The other deputy returned fire, but the suspect managed to run off. Deputies apprehended the suspect five days later.
While his partner survived, McCowan, who was 43 years old, succumbed to his wounds at Blount Memorial Hospital. He had served with the sheriff’s office for four years.
Body of Meigs County deputy recovered from river
Another line of duty death occurred in Meigs County only about a week after McCowan’s death. On Feb. 14, officials said Deputy Robert J. Leonard took a call relating to a disturbance near the Highway 60 bridge in Birchwood.
Only about 27 minutes after he arrived at the scene around 9:48 p.m., Leonard radioed that he had arrested a female suspect and was taking her to the Meigs County Jail. A few moments later, dispatchers said they received an unclear transmission where Leonard mentioned “water.”
Authorities said the area that Lenoard was in is remote and rural, sometimes making it difficult to receive radio traffic. When Leonard failed to respond to a status check, a search began. The next day, his patrol car was found upside down in the water with the woman in the back.
His body was recovered at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 15. Leonard, who was 35 years old, had just recently graduated from the police academy and served with the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office for two months before his death.
The fourth line of duty death in the state so far this year was recorded on Feb. 25 after Knoxville Police Officer Wisbens Antoine passed away from a medical-related incident. According to ODMP, Antoine collapsed at the completion of a 1.5 mile run during basic training.
⏩ Read today’s top stories on wkrn.com
The training staff provided life-saving measures until he was taken to UT Medical Center. However, officials said his condition worsened, and he died two days later. Antoine, who was 32 years old, had only been with the police department for one day.
He was a member of the 2023-B Basic Recruit Class.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
