On an April night in 1981 in Columbia, Tennessee, 34-year-old patrolman William Larry Whitwell pulled over a speeding vehicle in Woodland Park during his shift. The car’s occupants had just robbed a local fast-food restaurant; while Whitwell spoke with them he heard a radio report about the robbery and noticed a money bag inside the vehicle. A struggle followed and Whitwell was shot four times with his own service handgun. He was taken to Maury County Hospital and died during surgery.

Two suspects fled the scene; one was a juvenile. Both were later arrested. The adult was convicted of first-degree murder and given a life sentence. The juvenile was convicted of second-degree murder and received a 50-year sentence, and was later granted parole.

Does anyone have memories of Woodland Park that night or information about Whitwell’s patrol activities leading up to the traffic stop?