Tennessee Trails

Polk County, Law Enforcement Heroes

Biographical Info
Age: 55
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Deputy Gilbert was shot and killed while investigating a suspicious vehicle parked along the road on Little Sand Mountain. The car was parked in a location used by the local power company's payroll truck and had caught the attention of power company workers. The workers notified Deputy Gilbert, who lived nearby, and asked him to investigate the vehicle.

Deputy Gilbert deputized a neighbor and went to investigate. They reached the car as a man came out of the woods carrying a large sack. When Deputy Gilbert asked the man to surrender the man put the sack in the vehicle and immediately opened fire with a .45 caliber pistol, striking Deputy Gilbert. Despite being mortally wounded, Deputy Gilbert was able to return fire with his shotgun and struck the suspect once in the side.

The suspect fled the scene in his vehicle but became too weak to drive after a short distance. He was picked up by two passerby and taken to his home, and then to a local hospital, where he was charged with Deputy Gilbert's murder.

Deputy Gilbert had served with the agency for several terms. He was survived by his wife, four daughters, and son.

Biographical Info
Age: 45
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Deputy Tucker Headrick was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a group of four men for transporting liquor.

The suspects, who were members of two prominent families in the area, began to resist arrest. During the ensuing struggle Deputy Headrick was shot. He succumbed to his wounds two days later. Before dying, he was able to identify the suspects while on his deathbed.

The suspects were all acquitted at trial.

Biographical Info
Age: Not available
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Chief Deputy Wright and Deputy Bob Rogers were shot and killed from ambush as they conducted a routine check of a tavern on State Highway 68. Two hidden gunman opened fire on them with shotguns as they stepped out of their patrol car. Chief Deputy Wright and Deputy Rogers were both struck by the shotgun blasts and killed. A third deputy returned fire but did not strike the suspects.

Deputy Rogers was survived by his wife and ten children.

Biographical Info
Age: 49
Tour of Duty: 9 years
Badge Number: Not available

Chief Deputy Wright and Deputy Bob Rogers were shot and killed from ambush as they conducted a routine check of a tavern on State Highway 68. Two hidden gunman opened fire on them with shotguns as they stepped out of their patrol car. Chief Deputy Wright and Deputy Rogers were both struck by the shotgun blasts and killed. A third deputy returned fire but did not strike the suspects.

Chief Deputy Wright had served with the agency for 9 years. He was survived by his wife and two daughters.