Back The Blue
2023 Tennessee Line Of Duty Fallen Officers
Deputy Sheriff Tucker Blakely
Deputy Shannon Eric "Shane" Lang, Sr
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
Police Officer Geoffrey Redd
Deputy Shannon Eric "Shane" Lang, Sr
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
Detective Jacob Beu
Sergeant William Cherry
Police Officer Geoffrey Redd
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
Sergeant William Cherry
Sergeant William Cherry
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
Help Our Cause
Your support and contributions will enable us to support law enforcement officers and their families who have selflessly given their lives in the line of duty or are seriously injured.
