In the autumn of 1915, a veteran officer of the Little Rock Police Department, Detective Sam D. Morgan, would respond to his final call. At 55 years old, he had dedicated fifteen years of his life to law enforcement in the city. On October 30th, he and his fellow officers were on West 12th Street with the task of apprehending a suspect. The situation, however, would rapidly escalate into a violent and fatal confrontation.
During the attempt to make the arrest, the suspect managed to disarm one of the officers, gaining control of their handgun. In the ensuing struggle, the suspect fired the weapon, striking Detective Morgan. Despite being mortally wounded, the detective continued to fight. In a final act of bravery, he engaged the suspect in a hand-to-hand struggle and was able to subdue him, ending the threat.
Detective Sam D. Morgan succumbed to his gunshot wound that day. His assailant was also killed in the altercation. He was survived by his wife, leaving behind a legacy of service and sacrifice to the city of Little Rock.
