Oak Ridge police and community mourn officer after unexpected death

According to an ORPD post on the official Facebook page, Lieutenant Marvell Moore joined the Oak Ridge Police Department in 2005. He worked as a sergeant in the criminal investigation department before being promoted to lieutenant in 2023. According to the post on the Facebook page, he was key to many “side tasks within the department.” He was one of the lead investigators in the 2020 torture murder of Jennifer Gail Paxton, which recently led to the death sentence of Sean Shannon Finnegan. He testified during the nearly two-week trial last summer.

“He was loved by so many. We extend our condolences to the family and loved ones of Lt. Moore extends our deepest condolences and we appreciate the patience and understanding our community has shown us during this difficult time,” the ORPD post concluded.

On Tuesday afternoon, people on social media began posting about the large police presence in the emergency room at Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge, where Moore was taken. On Tuesday evening, various police departments and individuals began posting photos of an ORPD badge and patch with a thin blue line across it to commemorate the officer.