In the summer of 1978, a domestic disturbance call on Conner Street in Chattanooga, Tennessee, turned deadly, claiming the life of Police Officer Nelson I. Hess, V. The 35-year-old male officer, a six-year veteran of the Chattanooga Police Department, was among the first to arrive at the scene on June 12th.
Just two minutes after he and his partner, Officer David Friederichsen, reached the location, a suspect opened fire with a. 38 caliber handgun.
Officer Hess was fatally wounded at the scene, his life cut short in the line of duty. His partner, Officer Friederichsen, was also struck and succumbed to his injuries three days later in a local hospital.
The individual responsible for the deaths of the two officers was shot and killed at the scene of the incident. The sudden and violent end to Officer Hess's life left behind a wife, a son, his parents, and two brothers to mourn their loss. His dedicated service and ultimate sacrifice remain a somber chapter in the history of the Chattanooga Police Department.
