Chief Charles Knowles 1915 – 1973
58 years old

Tour of Duty: 30 years

Cause of Death: Heart Attack-Struggle
Date of Incident: Sunday, August 12, 1973

Weapon Used: Physical Force
Suspect Info: Female Unknown

Chief Knowles was a thirty-year veteran of the Seabrook Police Department. He was also a fourteen-year veteran of the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Department. He was born in Seabrook, New Hampshire, and was a member of the National Chiefs of Police Association and the Rockingham County Law Enforcement Association.

On the evening of August 12, 1973, Chief Knowles stopped a vehicle on Lafayette Road in Seabrook and attempted to arrest the driver for driving while intoxicated. The driver resisted the Chief’s efforts to arrest him and a scuffle ensued in front of the Prescott Farms Grocery Store. At this point an eighteen year-old woman, who was a passenger in the vehicle, kicked the Chief during the scuffle.

Chief Knowles suffered a fatal heart attack during the incident. He was 58 years old. He was survived by his wife, two sons and one daughter.

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund