Back The Blue
2023 Tennessee Line Of Duty Fallen Officers
Chief of Police Christopher Byard Cummings
Chief of Police Christopher Byard Cummings
Chief of Police Christopher Byard Cummings
Samburg Police Department, Tennessee
End of Watch Sunday, December 10, 2023
Chief of Police Christopher Cummings suffered a fatal heart attack after assisting with the dismantling of a beaver dam.
The beaver dam was obstructing roads and causing flooding. Chief Cummings worked with other officers to tear down the structure, which was solid and difficult to tear apart. He stated that he did not feel well and was going back to the station. An hour later, when officers returned to the station, they found Chief Cummings unresponsive. Despite resuscitation efforts, he was pronounced deceased.
Chief of Police Cummings was a United States Army and Tennessee National Guard Iraq War veteran. He had served with the Samburg Police Department for two years and previously served with the Obion Sheriff's Office for three years and the Union City Police Department for 24 years. He is survived by his son, mother, father, girlfriend, and stepson.
- Age 53
- Tour 29 years, 11 months
- Badge Not available
- Military Veteran
Sergeant James Michael Russ
Chief of Police Christopher Byard Cummings
Chief of Police Christopher Byard Cummings
Chattanooga Police Department , Tennessee
End of Watch Saturday, December 2, 2023
Sergeant Mike Russ suffered a fatal heart attack after working three 16-hour days supporting the Blue Cross Bowl at Finley Stadium at 1826 Reggie White Boulevard in Chattanooga.
From November 30th, 2023, to December 2nd, 2023, Sergeant Russ was at Finley Stadium at 8:00 a.m., supporting record-breaking crowds at festivities and events before the bowl game. He also maintained his regular duties as a court liaison and his assignment at the Emergency Operations Center. During the three days, coworkers expressed concern for symptoms he was displaying, such as shortness of breath and coughing. He went home at about 10:00 p.m. to complete department documentation when he collapsed. Despite resuscitation efforts, he was unable to be revived.
Sergeant Russ was a United States Navy veteran and served with the Chattanooga Police Department for 16 years. He was survived by his wife, mother, brother, nieces, and nephew.
Sergeant Russ a member of Law Enforcement United.
- Age 56
- Tour 16 years
- Badge 1065
- Military Veteran
Deputy Sheriff Tucker Blakely
Chief of Police Christopher Byard Cummings
Deputy Shannon Eric "Shane" Lang, Sr
Knox County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee
End of Watch Monday, October 2, 2023
Deputy Sheriff Tucker Blakely succumbed to gunshot wounds he received while responding to a domestic violence call at the 3200 block of Denver Lane in Knoxville.
At 11:30 p.m., deputies encountered an armed subject after receiving a domestic violence call. The situation escalated, and a gun battle ensued. Deputy Blakely was struck twice.
The subject was shot and killed by returning gunfire.
Deputy Blakely was transported to UT Medical Center and remained on life support so his organs could be donated.
Deputy Blakely was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Knox County Sheriff's Office for two years. He is survived by his wife, son, parents and brothers.
- Age 29
- Tour 2 years
- Badge 2781
- Military Veteran
Deputy Shannon Eric "Shane" Lang, Sr
Deputy Shannon Eric "Shane" Lang, Sr
Deputy Shannon Eric "Shane" Lang, Sr
Marion County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee
End of Watch Sunday, September 17, 2023
Deputy Sheriff Shane Lang suffered a fatal heart attack after removing heavy tree branches from Highway 156 in New Hope, Tennessee.
After clearing the highway, he began to feel ill. The following morning, while on his way to a call, he felt worse and went to Parkridge West Hospital in Jasper, where he suffered a cardiac arrest and could not be revived.
Deputy Lang had served with the Marion County Sheriff's Department for nine years and previously served with the Sequatchie County Sheriff's Office and the Florida State Department of Corrections. He is survived by his wife, two sons, three daughters, two brothers, two sisters, and eight grandchildren.
- Age 48
- Tour 23 years
- Badge 119
Sergeant William Cherry
Deputy Shannon Eric "Shane" Lang, Sr
Sergeant William Cherry
Macon County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee
End of Watch Saturday, July 29, 2023
Sergeant William Cherry was killed in a vehicle crash on Highway 10, near Long Creek Road, at about 12:30 am.
He was traveling southbound when an oncoming vehicle crossed the center line and struck his patrol car head-on, causing him to suffer fatal injuries. The other driver suffered severe injuries. Neither Sergeant Cherry nor the other driver were wearing their seatbelts.
Sergeant Cherry had served with the Macon County Sheriff's Office for five years and had served in law enforcement for more than 10 years. He had previously served with the Red Boiling Springs Police Department, Clay County Sheriff's Office, and Celina County Sheriff's Office. He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, and parents.
- Age 55
- Tour 10 years
- Badge 67
Detective Jacob Beu
Deputy Shannon Eric "Shane" Lang, Sr
Sergeant William Cherry
Rutherford County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee
End of Watch Sunday, May 7, 2023
Detective Jacob Beu was killed in a vehicle crash on Armstrong Valley Road in Murfreesboro.
Detective Beu was a United States Marine Corps veteran and served with Rutherford County Sheriff's Office for six years, assigned to the Narcotics Division for one year.
- Age 31
- Tour 6 years
- Badge 562
- Military Veteran
Police Officer Geoffrey Redd
Police Officer Geoffrey Redd
Police Officer Geoffrey Redd
Memphis Police Department, Tennessee
End of Watch Saturday, February 18, 2023
Police Officer Geoffrey Redd succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained two weeks earlier while responding to a suspicious person call at the Poplar-White Station Library at 5094 Poplar Avenue.
Officers, including Officer Redd, had responded to a nearby business regarding a trespasser. Approximately 30 minutes later the subject became engaged in an altercation with a citizen inside of the Poplar-White Station Library. As Officer Redd and another officer attempted to contact the subject outside of the library the man produced a handgun and opened fire on them.
Officer Redd was shot and critically wounded before the other officer returned fire and killed the subject. Officer Redd was transported to Regional One Hospital and remained in critical condition until succumbing to his wounds on February 18th, 2023.
Several years prior to being shot, Officer Redd had been critically injured when he was struck by a vehicle while on duty. He returned to duty following an extensive recovery period.
Officer Redd was a United States Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Memphis Police Department for 15 years. He is survived by his wife, three daughters, and four grandchildren.
- Age 49
- Tour 15 years
- Badge 4800
- Military Veteran
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