In what was described as a tragic turn of events, Sergeant William I. Campbell, a 32-year-old male officer with the Little Rock Police Department, lost his life on April 18, 1911. Having served with the agency for seven years, his death stemmed from an encounter with a drunk constable who had been causing a public disturbance.
The confrontation began when the constable, whose name was not mentioned in the available records, started making accusations of misconduct against Sergeant
Campbell. The constable reportedly warned the sergeant that he would 'get him by the end of the week.' In an attempt to de-escalate the situation and prevent further trouble, Sergeant Campbell warned the constable to leave the area and then knocked him to the ground.
As Sergeant Campbell began to walk away from the scene, the constable fired a shot at him. The sergeant then turned back towards the constable and was tragically shot in the abdomen. He was quickly transported to a local hospital for medical attention but ultimately succumbed to the severe injury. The records available do not specify any further details regarding the immediate arrest or subsequent legal proceedings against the constable responsible for Sergeant Campbell's death.
