Back The Blue
2024 Tennessee Line Of Duty Fallen Officers
Police Officer Demetrice Johnson
Police Officer Demetrice Johnson
Police Officer Demetrice Johnson
Memphis Police Department, Tennessee
End of Watch Friday, August 2, 2024
Police Officer Demetrice Johnson was killed in a vehicle crash at the intersection of Mississippi Boulevard and Danny Thomas Boulevard at about 3:00 am.
A vehicle fleeing the scene of a nearby shooting collided with the patrol car Officer Johnson was in. The other driver, who had been wounded in the shooting, was also killed in the crash. Officer Johnson's partner suffered critical injuries.
Officer Johnson had served with the Memphis Police Department for just over one year and had graduated from the police academy only three months prior. He was assigned to the North Main Station. He is survived by his wife and young son.
- Age 34
- Tour 1 year, 4 months
- Badge 6764
Sheriff Roy "Sonny" Weatherford
Police Officer Demetrice Johnson
Police Officer Demetrice Johnson
Sumner County Sheriff's Office,
Tennessee
End of Watch Friday, August 2, 2024
Sheriff Sonny Weatherford succumbed to injuries sustained the previous day when he fell while attending the 2024 Tennessee Sheriff's Association Conference at Sevierville Convention Center.
He suffered a severe head injury as a result of the fall and was transported to a local hospital where he passed away the following day.
Sheriff Weatherford had served with the Sumner County Sheriff's Office for 39 years and had served as sheriff for 14 years. He had previously served with the Portland Police Department for two years. He is survived by his wife, two sons, four grandchildren, and three siblings.
- Age 65
- Tour 41 years
- Badge 1
Police Officer Joseph McKinney
Police Officer Demetrice Johnson
Police Officer Joseph McKinney
Memphis Police Department, Tennessee
End of Watch Friday, April 12, 2024
Police Officer Joseph McKinney was shot and killed while investigating a suspicious vehicle at the intersection of Charter Avenue and Horn Lake Road at about 2:00 am.
He and other officers were approaching the vehicle when the occupants opened fire on them. Officers returned fire before the car fled. The officers pursued the vehicle and took two wounded subjects into custody after it stopped. The adult subject died of his gunshot wounds and the juvenile subject suffered critical gunshot wounds. The adult subject was out on bond from an arrest the previous month in which he had been charged with possession of a modified semi-automatic weapon and two counts of grand larceny related to vehicle thefts.
Officer McKinney was transported to Regional One Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. Two other officers were wounded.
Officer McKinney had served with the Memphis Police Department for over three years. He is survived by his wife.
- Age 26
- Tour 3 years
- Badge 14649
Police Officer Wisbens Antoine
Deputy Sheriff Robert John Leonard
Police Officer Joseph McKinney
Knoxville Police Department, Tennessee
End of Watch Sunday, February 25, 2024
Police Officer Wisbens Antoine passed away after collapsing at the completion of a 1.5-mile run during Basic Recruit Training at 1650 Huron Street in Knoxville on February 23, 2024.
The training staff provided life-saving measures until he could be transported to UT Medical Center. His condition worsened, and he passed away on February 25, 2024.
Officer Antoine had served with the Knoxville Police Department for one day. He was a member of the 2023-B Basic Recruit Class. He is survived by his wife and two children.
- Age 32
- Tour 1 day
- Badge Not available
Deputy Sheriff Robert John Leonard
Deputy Sheriff Robert John Leonard
Deputy Sheriff Robert John Leonard
Meigs County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee
End of Watch Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Deputy Sheriff R.J. Leonard died in a single-vehicle crash into the Tennessee River off the Blythe Ferry Boat Ramp in Birchwood.
Deputy Leonard was at home when he took the call relating to a disturbance near the Highway 60 Bridge in Birchwood. He arrived at the scene at about 9:48 p.m. and, at 10:15 pm, radioed that he had arrested a female subject and was transporting her to the Meigs County Jail. A few moments later, dispatchers received an unclear transmission where Deputy Leonard mentioned "water." The area is remote and rural, and it is difficult for cellphone signals and other radio traffic to go through. When he failed to respond to a status check, a search began.
The next day, his patrol car was found upside down in the water with the female subject in the back. His window was rolled down, and he was not in the vehicle. His body was recovered at 6:30 p.m. on February 15, 2024.
Deputy Leonard had served with the Meigs County Sheriff's Office for two months. He is survived by his wife, five children, mother, and two siblings.
- Age 35
- Tour 2 months
- Badge 807
Deputy Sheriff Greg McCowan
Deputy Sheriff Robert John Leonard
Deputy Sheriff Robert John Leonard
Blount County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee
End of Watch Thursday, February 8, 2024
Deputy Sheriff McCowan was shot and killed while initiating a traffic stop at 4959 Sevierville Road in Maryville.
Around 9:00 p.m., Deputy McCowan and his partner pulled over a vehicle for erratic driving. The driver would not cooperate and shot Deputy McCowan and the other deputy in the leg. She returned fire, but the subject fled on foot.
Deputy McCowan was taken to Blount Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. The other deputy was treated at the hospital and released.
The subject, who is a convicted felon, was apprehended 5 days later. The felon's brother and girlfriend were arrested and charged with aiding the defendant after the commission of the homicide.
Deputy McCowan had served with the Blount County Sheriff's Office for four years. He is survived by two children, a granddaughter, parents, and fiancée.
- Age 43
- Tour 4 years
- Badge 344
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