Back The Blue
P.O. Box 30032 Knoxville, TN 37930
2019-2020 Tennessee Fallen Officer Memorial
Police Officer Destin Legieza
Officer Nicholas Scott Galinger
Officer Nicholas Scott Galinger
Brentwood Police Department, Tennessee
End of Watch Thursday, June 18, 2020
Police Officer Destin Legieza was killed in a vehicle crash on Franklin Road between Murray Lane to Concord Road shortly before 6:00 am.
A vehicle traveling in the opposite direction crossed the center line and struck Officer Legieza's patrol SUV head-on. The other driver sustained non-life threatening injuries.
Officer Legieza had served with the Brentwood Police Department for five years and was a third-generation law enforcement officer. He is survived by his wife.
- Age 30
- Tour 5 years
- Badge Not available
Officer Nicholas Scott Galinger
Officer Nicholas Scott Galinger
Officer Nicholas Scott Galinger
Chattanooga Police Department, TN
EOW: Sunday, February 24, 2019
Police Officer Nicholas Galinger was struck and killed by a vehicle in the 2900 block of Hamill Road at 11:00 pm.
He was checking a manhole cover that had water overflowing from it when he was struck. Officer Galinger was transported to a local hospital where he died a short time later.
The vehicle fled the scene after striking him. The driver turned herself in two days later after being added to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's Top Ten Most Wanted List. She was charged with vehicular homicide.
Officer Galinger had just graduated from the police academy in January 2019 and was in field training. He is survived by his son, daughter, parents, two sisters, two brothers, two grandmothers and other relatives.
- Age 38
- Tour 1 month
- Badge 1016
Sergeant Steve Hinkle
Officer Nicholas Scott Galinger
Trooper Matthew Elias Gatti
Sullivan County Sheriff's Office, TN
EOW: Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Sergeant Steve Hinkle succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained three days earlier at 3606 Highway 11W.
Deputies had responded to the residence to conduct a welfare check on an occupant. As they approached the home the occupant opened fire on them, causing them to seek cover. As the deputies attempted to establish communication with the man he opened fire a second time, striking Sergeant Hinkle during the exchange of gunfire.
The subject was found deceased inside the home several hours later.
Sergeant Hinkle was transported to the hospital where he died as a result of his wounds on February 26th, 2019.
Sergeant Hinkle had served with the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office for 27 years.
- Age 65
- Tour 27 years
- Badge 1741
Trooper Matthew Elias Gatti
Correctional Administrator Debra Johnson
Trooper Matthew Elias Gatti
Tennessee Highway Patrol, TN
EOW: Monday, May 6, 2019
Trooper Matthew Gatti was killed when his patrol car collided with two tractor-trailers on I-40 near mile marker 74 in Madison County.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:45 pm as Trooper Gatti was responding to a car fire. His patrol car struck the rear of one semi before spinning into the second one.
Trooper Gatti had served with the Tennessee Highway Patrol for 11 months. Prior to that, he served as a corrections officer at the Madison County Criminal Justice Complex before applying to the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Trooper Gatti is survived by his wife, his parents, and his three younger teenage siblings.
- Age 24
- Tour 11 months
- Badge Not available
Police Officer John Ralph Anderson, IV
Correctional Administrator Debra Johnson
Correctional Administrator Debra Johnson
Metro Nashville Police Department, TN
EOW: Thursday, July 4, 2019
Police Officer John Anderson was killed in a vehicle crash at the intersection of Woodland Street and Interstate Drive.
The vehicle that struck him had just fled from other officers who attempted to make a traffic stop on it. The officer terminated the stop when the vehicle fled and did not pursue it. Officer Anderson was en route to assist on an unrelated call involving a pedestrian on the interstate when the fleeing vehicle ran a red light and struck his patrol car.
Officer Anderson's patrol car became engulfed in flames. The passenger in the fleeing vehicle suffered life-threatening injuries. The juvenile driver of the vehicle suffered minor injuries and was charged with vehicular homicide.
Officer Anderson was a U.S Marine Corps Reserve veteran and had served with the Metro Nashville Police Department for four years and was assigned to the Central Precinct.
- Age 28
- Tour 4 years
- Badge Not available
- Military Veteran
Correctional Administrator Debra Johnson
Correctional Administrator Debra Johnson
Correctional Administrator Debra Johnson
Tennessee Department of Correction, TN
EOW: Wednesday, August 7, 2019
Badge Not availableFallen Officer Memorial istrator Debra Johnson was found murdered in her residence on the grounds of the West Tennessee State Penitentiary on August 7th, 2019.
She was attacked by an inmate who then escaped from the facility using a tractor. The escapee, who was serving a sentence for aggravated kidnapping and rape, remained at large for five days before being taken into custody. He was charged with first-degree murder, burglary, aggravated sexual assault, and escape.
Administrator Johnson had served with the Tennessee Department of Correction for 38 years and started her career as a correctional officer.
- Age 64
- Tour 38 years
- Badge Not available
Deputy Stephen Reece
Master Patrol Officer Spencer Bristol
Master Patrol Officer Spencer Bristol
Cheatham County Sheriff's Office, TN
EOW: Friday, November 15, 2019
Deputy Sheriff Stephen Reece was killed in a vehicle crash at the intersection of Oak Plains Road and Route 41A South, in Montgomery County, at 2:15 pm.
His patrol car was struck as it entered the highway.
Deputy Reece was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of Operation Desert Storm and had served in law enforcement for 24 years. He is survived by his wife, two children, and three siblings.
- Age 50
- Tour 24 years
- Badge 918
- Military Veteran
Master Patrol Officer Spencer Bristol
Master Patrol Officer Spencer Bristol
Master Patrol Officer Spencer Bristol
Hendersonville Police Department, TN
EOW: Monday, December 30, 2019
Master Patrol Officer Spencer Bristol was struck and killed by a vehicle while involved in a foot pursuit of a subject across I-65 near Vietnam Veterans Boulevard in Davidson County.
Officers had started pursuing a vehicle with two occupants in Hendersonville. The pursuit continued through Goodlettsville until crashing at the interchange. One of the subjects was taken into custody but the second man fled on foot. Officer Bristol was fatally struck by a vehicle as they ran across I-65.
The subject he was chasing continued to flee and remains at large. The subject who was arrested at the scene was charged with reckless endangerment and felony evading.
Officer Bristol was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the Hendersonville Police Department for four years. He is survived by his wife and 3-year-old daughter.
- Age 31
- Tour 4 years
- Badge Not available
- Military Veteran
Sergeant Joseph Brian Montijo
Master Patrol Officer Spencer Bristol
Sergeant Joseph Brian Montijo
Chattanooga Police Department, TN
EOW: Friday, November 1, 2019
Sergeant Joe Montijo died as the result of a complication of heat exhaustion sustained on September 12th, 2019, while processing a crime scene in the 3900 block of Dahlia Street.
He was exposed to high temperatures and high humidity for several hours while processing the outdoor homicide scene. He was transported to the hospital from the scene after he began to exhibit symptoms of heatstroke. He was treated and released from the hospital but continued to experience health issues as a result of the heatstroke.
On November 1st, 2019, he called 911 after suffering additional health issues and was transported to the hospital in cardiac arrest. He died a short time later.
Sergeant Montijo had served with the Chattanooga Police Department for 12 years and had previously served with the Los Angeles, California, Police Department for eight years. He is survived by his wife, two children, mother, and three sisters.
- Age 49
- Tour 20 years
- Badge 1059
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