Memphis Officer Charged with On-Duty Murder, Kidnapping
Police say Patric Ferguson then drove to the area of Frayser Blvd. and Denver Street, where they say he shot and killed Robert Howard. An affidavit says Ferguson shot Howard in the back of the squad car before moving the body to another location.
Fired Memphis Officer Patric Ferguson is charged with murdering a man after forcing him into his patrol car at gunpoint. (Photo: Fox 13 Screen Shot)
A now-fired Memphis Police officer is in jail after police say he confessed to kidnapping and murdering a man while on duty.
Patric Ferguson, 29, is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree murder in perpetration of aggravated kidnapping, especially aggravated kidnapping, abuse of a corpse, and fabrication and tampering with evidence, Fox13 reports.
In a statement MPD posted to its Facebook page at 1:23 a.m. Sunday, the department said Ferguson had been arrested and immediately relieved of duty. An affidavit about Ferguson’s arrest is dated January 10.
According to MPD’s release, police got a call Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. from a woman reporting her boyfriend Robert Howard, 30, was missing
Police said their investigation led them to determine Ferguson, who they say was on duty and armed with his own handgun, encountered Howard outside a home on Mark Twain Street and forced him into the back of his squad car. Police say Ferguson then drove to the area of Frayser Blvd. and Denver Street, where they say he shot and killed Howard. An affidavit says Ferguson shot Howard in the back of the car before moving the body to another location temporarily.
Sources told Fox13 that the murder may have been committed over jealousy.
More Patrol
Folds of Honor Celebrates Graduation Season as 1,613 Military and First Responder Family Scholars Earn Their Degrees
Every Folds of Honor scholar graduating in the Class of 2026 carries a story starting with sacrifice. Folds of Honor ensures it doesn’t end there. Since 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded nearly 73,000 educational scholarships to military and first responder families.
Read More →
Why Tennessee’s New Deadly Force Law Matters Beyond Tennessee
Tennessee’s new deadly force law is more limited than many may realize. Effective July 1, 2026, the law applies to a person who is not engaged in conduct that would constitute a felony or a Class A misdemeanor and who is in a place where the person lawfully resides. But it could have far-reaching influence.
Read More →
When Do You Transport a Wounded Officer by Police Vehicle?
Time-sensitive injuries like penetrating trauma mean a wounded officer needs to reach a trauma center as soon as possible, and in some cases, that means transporting by police vehicle rather than waiting for EMS. What are the factors to consider in making that transport decision?
Read More →
Safariland Solis Rethinks Concealable Duty
What if Level I retention didn’t require a full duty rig? Safariland’s Solis delivers trusted ALS security in a streamlined OWB platform built for administrative and plainclothes professionals who need protection without the bulk.
Read More →
5 Things to Know When Buying Backup Lights for Patrol Use
What is the value of a backup light, and what do you need to consider when selecting one? These smaller lights are invaluable as a secondary or special-purpose light and can be easily carried in a pocket or clipped to MOLLE gear, a key chain, shirt, or a vest.
Read More →
363 Fallen Officers Honored During National Police Week
In case you missed NELOMF’s annual Candlelight Vigil, here are all 363 names of the fallen officers whose names were added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial this year.
Read More →
NYPD Officers Who Responded Quickly During IED Incident Recognized as NLEOMF Officers of the Month
Chief Aaron Edwards and Sgt. Luis Navarro were recognized by NLEOMF as Officers of the Month for their response during an IED incident and their actions that helped prevent harm to the public.
Read More →
National Police Survey Reveals How Americans View Policing Today
A new national survey offers a comprehensive look at how Americans view policing. The study uncovers public sentiment toward local vs. federal police, communications, crisis response, the use of AI in policing, and more.
Read More →
Streamlight TLR-7 X Selected as Standard Issue Pistol Light by Canadian Federal Police
The Canadian Federal Police will be adding a new duty pistol system, which will include Streamlight’s TLR-7 X and a Glock 45 MOS 7 pistol with a red dot sight.
Read More →
Fallen Law Enforcement Officers from Across the Country to be Honored During 38th Annual Candlelight Vigil on May 13th in Washington, D.C.
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) will honor 363 fallen officers who have died in the line of duty as their names are added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial during the annual Candlelight Vigil on May 13.
Read More →