On Wednesday, the morning of June 26, 1946 Officer Buie boarded a city bus that had stopped at West Erwin and North Broadway to settle a dispute. As Officer Buie exited the bus, thinking the dispute was over, a man involved in the disturbance from the bus stabbed Officer Buie in the chest. The suspect fled the area and touched off the largest manhunt in Texas in order to bring him to justice. The suspect was captured days later in Corsicana and Officer Buie died from the injury he sustained. Officer Buie was the first officer to be killed in the line of duty in the history of the Tyler Police Department.

On Sunday, May 8, 1955 Officer Burl Whittington was working his first Mother’s Day with the department when he was killed. Officer Whittington was involved in a high-speed pursuit of two teenagers on South Broadway. Officer Whittington followed the two teens down Old Bullard Road when he lost control of his vehicle striking a tree head-on. Officer Whittington died from injuries he sustained from the crash.

On Friday, October 12, 1962 Officer M.F. Nichol was riding in a patrol unit with his partner when the two officers spotted a vehicle traveling in excessive speeds on West Bow Street. Nichol and his partner began pursuing the vehicle through the city before crashing into the back of a truck at Loop 323 and Mineola Highway. Nichol died as a result of his injuries he sustained in the crash.

On Friday, March 29, 1963 Officer Vickers was investigating a traffic accident around 8:00 p.m. in front of Tyler Junior College. Officer Vickers was struck in the roadway by a driver of a passing vehicle that did not see the officer. Officer Vickers died as a result of injuries he sustained.