Age:   28
Served: 6½ years
February 16, 1938 to July 13, 1944

Patrolman Neal, of 3949 Millsbrae Court, on his way to report to duty at the Highway Safety Bureau, was operating his police motorcycle westbound on Columbia Parkway at 6:52 a.m. on July 13, 1944.  Ernest Collins, 52 Rural Route 1, Burlington, Kentucky, drove his sedan eastbound and turned left onto Martin Street and in front of the motorcycle.  Patrolman Neal collided with Collins’ vehicle with such force that three of the four passengers inside the vehicle were injured.  Patrolman Neal fractured his skull, jaw, and left wrist and suffered multiple lacerations of the face and head and a crushed chest.  A police patrol took him to General Hospital where he died at 9 a.m.

Patrolman Neal left his wife of twelve days, Virginia, and both his parents, Susan E. and John W. Neal, Sr.  His funeral was held at 1309 E. McMillan Street on July 17, 1944 at 2 p.m.  Pallbearers included Patrolmen Ralph Ashby, Eugene Simpson, Charles Bradbury, Bradley Mathis, Wilber Klosterman, and Harry Hull.  He was buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Saint Bernard.

Sergeant Higdon Roberts, Patrolmen Rex Burdsall, and Robert Klug, and Major Elmer O’Neil investigated the accident and charged Collins with Manslaughter. 

Patrolman Neal had been a motorcycle policeman since July 1, 1940 when he transferred from District Two.  He previously suffered a skull fracture when his motorcycle hit a tree on Trimble Avenue and Duck Creek Road while pursuing a speeder.  He suffered minor injuries in motorcycle crashes during March 1941 and June 1942. 

If you have further information, artifacts, or pictures of this officer, please contact the Museum Director at Director@GCPHS.com.