In the summer of 1927, a confrontation in the small city of Ellensburg, Washington, ended in the tragic death of Alva Tucker. At 52 years of age, Tucker served as the Chief of Police for the Ellensburg Police Department. His death occurred on July 2, 1927, during a period of heightened tension related to Prohibition.
On that fateful day, Chief Tucker was attempting to arrest a man who was intoxicated and had reportedly been making threats to kill police officers. The suspect was known to law enforcement and had a history of conflict with them, including a previous shootout. As Chief Tucker approached the individual at 111 W. 3rd Street, the encounter quickly escalated into an exchange of gunfire.
Both Chief Tucker and the suspect were fatally wounded in the shootout. Because the perpetrator was killed at the scene, there were no subsequent arrests or suspects in the case. The investigation concluded with the deaths of both men. Alva Tucker was a dedicated officer who had been actively involved in efforts to curb illegal liquor sales in the community. His death was a significant loss for Ellensburg, and he left behind a wife and four children.
