Greensboro, NC

The Greensboro Police Department recognizes and honors the ultimate sacrifice paid by its officers. Their heroism and dedication will never be forgotten.

Officer William T. McCuiston

Appointed: May 24, 1907
End of Watch: May 4, 1921
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Officer McCuiston, 53, was shot and killed while off duty trying to apprehend a vehicle driven by bootleggers. He and his partner, Burton David Oakes, waited for the bootleggers near Washington and Forbis (now Church) streets. McCuiston hailed to the car when the vehicle approached the intersection. When it failed to stop, he stepped on its running board and ordered the driver to halt. One of the three occupants fired a .38 caliber pistol point-blank into McCuiston's chest and he died instantly.

Motorcycle Officer Andrew C. Calhoun

Appointed: October 5, 1920
End of Watch: May 29, 1921
Cause of Death: Motorcycle Accident

While giving pursuit to a speeding Cadillac, Motorcycle Officer Calhoun, 28, attempted to pass another vehicle, but lost control of his motorcycle. Going more than 60 miles per hour, the bike slid out from under him. Six days later, Officer Calhoun died as a result of his injuries.

Officer Elmer E. Honeycutt

Appointed: December 16, 1923
End of Watch: June 14, 1924
Cause of Death: Gunfire

At approximately 10 am, Officer Honeycutt and another officer entered a wooded area off High Point Road looking for a prowler who had been seen in the area. They were unaware the suspect had just burglarized several nearby homes before running into the woods. As Officer Honeycutt, 31, approached the man, who was lying on the ground, he was shot and killed.  

Corporal Joe R. Massey

Appointed: August 1, 1946
End of Watch: May 31, 1959
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Corporal Massey, 42, was shot to death at 1:27 am while sitting at a table in Foust Service Station (corner of East Market and Regan streets) completing reports and preparing to end his tour of duty. He was shot five times in the chest at close range. The shooting was an act of revenge by an assailant Massey had ticketed earlier that evening.

Officer Edward Ford

Appointed: September 7, 1959
End of Watch: June 8, 1962
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Following a vehicle stop at 7:05 pm at Elm and Butner streets, Officer Ford, 24, was shot and killed with his own service weapon while booking a driver he had arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Officer Ford was talking on the telephone at the station when the suspect grabbed Ford's firearm and shot him. Ford died several days. Following Ford's death, pistol lock boxes were placed near the booking area.

Officer Joseph Gibbs Cooper

Appointed: April 9, 1968
End of Watch: August 23, 1970
Cause of Death: Vehicle Pursuit

Officer Cooper, 23, sustained injuries from a crash while assisting other patrol units in a vehicle chase. At 3:30 am August 15, 1970, Officer Cooper and his reserve officer partner attempted to get into position to assist another patrol unit involved in the chase. While attempting to pass another police car on Lee Street near Elm Street, their vehicle went out of control and crashed. Officer Cooper died from pneumonia a week after being admitted to the hospital.

Officer Arthur Glenn Craft Jr.

Appointed: May 14, 1973
End of Watch: February 14, 1974
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Officer Craft, 28, and his partner were dispatched to the 1700 block of Dillon Road due to a report of a "crazy man in the woods behind a residence." When Officer Craft arrived on the scene, he was ambushed by the man and shot in the face and chest with a shotgun. The suspect, an ex-convict who was hiding in an old vehicle, also shot and wounded Craft's partner before being taken into custody. Officer Craft was taken to Moses Cone Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The suspect was sentenced to life in prison.

Officer Michael Gray Winslow

Appointed: February 16, 1978
End of Watch: June 27,1978
Cause of Death: Automobile Accident

Officer Winslow, 21, was killed in an automobile accident while responding to assist a fellow officer. Winslow was traveling on I-40, when a vehicle traveling in front of him caused him to swerve. While attempting to avoid a collision, Winslow lost control of his vehicle, which then struck a concrete bridge support in the median. Officer Winslow was rushed to Moses Cone Hospital with severe injuries and died the next day. He was the youngest officer to die in the line of duty. He is memorialized through the Michael G. Winslow Award established by his parents, Robert and Carol Winslow, which is presented to the most outstanding officer in each recruit school.

Officer Porter Link Robinson

Appointed: August 16, 1991
End of Watch: November 23, 1992
Cause of Death: Vehicle Pursuit

Officer Robinson, 24, died during a vehicle pursuit of a stolen car. On November 23, 1992, at approximately 12:14 am, Officer Robinson attempted to stop a car at West Market Street and Edwardia Drive. Both the license plate and the car had been reported stolen to the Burlington Police Department. The suspect vehicle fled and Officer Robinson initiated a pursuit. During the chase, the subjects failed to negotiate a sharp curve and their vehicle collided with a guardrail. Robinson's vehicle also left the roadway and crashed head-on into a tree. He was transported to Moses Cone Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The suspects fled the scene, but were later apprehended.

Detective David L. Taylor Jr.

 
Appointed: July 2, 1990
End of Watch: August 7, 2001                                                           
Cause of Death: Heat Exhaustion

Detective Taylor died due to heat exhaustion while attempting to test surveillance equipment on a cell phone tower. Detective Taylor, part of the agency's Narcotics Squad, was a technology expert working on a federal Narcotics Task Force. He and a federal agent had scaled the cell phone tower in 100 degree temperatures and were testing equipment approximately 150 feet off the ground. Taylor sustained a serious injury when he collapsed and fell from the tower, but was caught by his safety harness. Taylor died prior to being rescued from the tower. He is memorialized through the David Lee Taylor Jr. Memorial Scholarship, established by his parents Mr. & Mrs. David Lee Taylor

Officer Jared W. Franks

Appointed: March 7, 2017

End of Watch: November 10, 2018                                                   

Cause of Death: Vehicular Collision

Officer Franks, 24, lost his life from a collision involving police vehicles. While investigating a possible robbery in progress officers were attempting to locate the suspect vehicle when a motor vehicle collision occurred at S. Elm-Eugene Street and Webster Road, involving police vehicles. As a result of the collision, Officer Jared William Franks lost his life. 

Sergeant Philip Dale Nix

Appointed: December 4, 2001                                                                                               

End of Watch: December 30, 2023                                                   

Cause of Death: Gunfire

Sergeant Philip Dale Nix, 50, lost his life when he was shot and killed, off-duty, at a gas station intervening in a crime. The incident occurred along Sandy Ridge Road on December 30, 2023. Sgt. Nix served GPD for 23 years and was the Supervisor of the Family Victims Unit.