On This Date December 11) 1991-Detective Lawrence (Larry) D. Bromley
On this date (December 11) 1991 a wife lost a husband, his father and mother lost a son and Dallas lost a police officer.
Detective Lawrence (Larry) D. Bromley, Badge Number 4570, age 32, was shot and killed by shots fired from backup officers after a planned drug buy went wrong.
Detective Bromley and his female partner utilizing a red Pontiac Firebird met two suspects on the parking lot of the Bennigan’s Restaurant at 4345 West Camp Wisdom Road.
The meet was for the Detectives to purchase 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of cocaine for 30,000 dollars.
The suspects asked to get into the undercover vehicle, which was not planned. At this time Detective Bromley changed from the front seat to the rear seat, this also not planned.
With Detective Bromley in the rear seat with Jerry B. Taylor, age 17 and his partner in the front seat with Frederick Henry Moore, age 21, the rear seat suspect pulled a Tech 9 firearm, aimed it at Detective Bromley’s head and demanded he turnover the money arranged or the drug sale.
Detective Bromley who was equipped with a radio transmitter was overheard by backup officers begging for Suspect Taylor not to shoot, he would give him the money. At this time backup officers approached the vehicle and observed several flashes from the discharge of a firearm.
The backup officer not knowing Detective Bromley had changed seating positions thought the discharge of the firearm was from the suspects, which was actually Detective Bromley firing at the suspect. As the backup officers ran to the undercover vehicle, they opened fire into the back seat.
Both Detective Bromley, Suspects Taylor and Moore were struck by these shots. All received fatal injuries.
Subsequent investigation found there were three additional suspects involved in this planned robbery. They were all indicted and found guilty of the conspiracy along with other unrelated charges. All three received prison sentences.
A Grand Jury referral of the backup officers involved resulted in No Bills, considered an accidental death.
Detective Lawrence (Larry) D. Bromley is interred at the Lewis County Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
Hohenwald, Tennessee.