Back The Blue
2022 Tennessee Line Of Duty Fallen Officers
Police Officer Corille Cortez Jones
Police Officer Corille Cortez Jones
Police Officer Corille Cortez Jones
Memphis Police Department, Tennessee
End of Watch Thursday, January 20, 2022
Police Officer CJ Jones was killed in a vehicle crash at the intersection of East Shelby Drive and Pleasant Hill Road at about 2:30 am.
Officer Jones was responding to a call when another vehicle collided with his patrol car. The driver of the other car was killed in the crash. Officer Jones was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Officer Jones had served with the Memphis Police Department for almost two years. He is survived by his two children.
- Age 32
- Tour 1 year, 11 months
- Badge 6313
Master Trooper Vince A. Mullins
Police Officer Corille Cortez Jones
Police Officer Corille Cortez Jones
Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee
End of Watch Friday, January 28, 2022
Master Trooper Vince Mullins died as a result of contracting COVID-19 while serving at the Greene County Scales Complex in the Fall Branch District.
Trooper Mullins was a United States Army veteran who had served with the Tennessee Highway Patrol for over 25 years and was assigned to the Greene County Scales Complex in the Fall Branch District. He is survived by his wife, six children, five grandchildren, parents, and two sisters.
- Age 54
- Tour 25 years
- Badge 5633
- Military Veteran
Sergeant Chris Jenkins
Police Officer Corille Cortez Jones
Captain Frank Keith Rezac Jr.
Loudon County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee
End of Watch Thursday, February 3, 2022
Sergeant Chris Jenkins was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer while attempting to move a ladder from I-75 near mile marker 74.
The ladder had fallen off the back of a utility truck and had created a traffic hazard on the interstate. Sergeant Jenkins had brought traffic to a stop with a rolling roadblock and then exited his vehicle to remove the ladder. An oncoming tractor-trailer was unable to stop and struck Sergeant Jenkins, his cruiser, and several other vehicles.
The vehicle that dropped the ladder never stopped. The driver of the truck that struck him was charged with vehicular homicide by intoxication, vehicular homicide by recklessness, two counts of reckless endangerment, DUI, simple possession of narcotics, possession of a handgun under the influence, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Sergeant Jenkins was a military veteran and had served with the Loudon County Sheriff's Office for 20 years. He is survived by his two children. His son also serves as a deputy with the agency.
Sergeant Jenkins was a first cousin of Deputy Sheriff Jason Scott, who was shot and killed in the line of duty on March 12th, 2004, while also serving with the Loudon County Sheriff's Office.
- Age 53
- Tour 20 years
- Badge 904
- Military Veteran
Captain Frank Keith Rezac Jr.
Corrections Deputy Bridgette Lachelle Hunter
Captain Frank Keith Rezac Jr.
Carroll County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee
End of Watch Wednesday, February 16, 2022
Captain Frank Rezac died from complications as a result of contracting COVID-19 while serving at the Carrol County Jail at 200 Norandal Drive in Huntingdon.
Captain Rezac had served with the Carroll County Sheriff's Office for ten years and previously served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in California for 12 years. He is survived by his wife, two children, and two grandchildren.
- Age 55
- Tour 22 years
- Badge 791
Corrections Deputy Bridgette Lachelle Hunter
Corrections Deputy Bridgette Lachelle Hunter
Corrections Deputy Bridgette Lachelle Hunter
Shelby County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee
End of Watch Thursday, February 17, 2022
Corrections Deputy Bridgette Hunter died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 while working at the Shelby County Jail at 201 Poplar Avenue in Memphis.
Deputy Hunter had served with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office for over 30 years. She is survived by her two children.
- Age 57
- Tour 30 years, 5 months
- Badge 3013
Police Officer II Jeffrey Herndon Carson
Corrections Deputy Bridgette Lachelle Hunter
Corrections Deputy Bridgette Lachelle Hunter
Franklin Police Department, Tennessee
End of Watch Saturday, March 26, 2022
Police Officer II Jeff Carson suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after moving a heavy couch from the travel lanes of I-65 near Cool Springs Mall.
Prior to moving the couch, he had responded to a crash involving a vehicle that went off-road at high speed and drove into an area of rugged terrain. The vehicle was unoccupied when it was located and he checked the area on foot for victims of the crash.
He returned home following his shift and collapsed a short time later.
Officer Carson had served with the Franklin Police Department for 14 years. He is survived by his wife and son.
Officer Carson was a well-known country music singer who had performed at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and toured the United States.
- Age 58
- Tour 14 years
- Badge 448
Detective Matthew Walker Blansett
Detective Matthew Walker Blansett
Detective Matthew Walker Blansett
Marion County Sheriff's Department, Tennessee
End of Watch Tuesday, August 23, 2022
Detective Matt Blansett and Sergeant Lee Russell of the Tennessee Highway Patrol were killed in a helicopter crash on Aetna Mountain in Marion County at about 4:00 pm.
The Bell 206 helicopter struck high-tension power lines and crashed into a wooded area near mile marker 163 adjacent to I-24 and SR-134.
Detective Blansett served with the Marion County Sheriff's Department for 20 years and also served as a Marion County Commissioner. He is survived by his wife and two sons.
- Age 40
- Tour 20 years
- Badge Not available
Sergeant Harold Lee Russell, II
Detective Matthew Walker Blansett
Detective Matthew Walker Blansett
Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee
End of Watch Tuesday, August 23, 2022
Sergeant Lee Russell and Detective Matt Blansett of the Marion County Sheriff's Department were killed in a helicopter crash on Aetna Mountain in Marion County at about 4:00 pm.
The Bell 206 helicopter struck high-tension power lines and crashed into a wooded area near mile marker 163 adjacent to I-24 and SR-134.
Sergeant Russell had served with the Tennessee Highway Patrol for 12 years and was assigned to the Special Opts Aviation Unit. He is survived by his wife, son, daughter, parents, brother, and grandmother.
- Age 35
- Tour 12 years
- Badge Not available
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