Knox County
Sheriff's Office
Knox County
Sheriff's Office
KCSO
OFFICER MEMORIAL
We at the Knox County Sheriff’s Office like to honor those individuals who paid the ultimate price in the service of their community. Â
If you would like information on what you can do to help, visit our Officer Assistance Program page to learn more.
Knox County, TN
Fallen Officers
Officer Tucker Blakely
Sunday, October 1, 2023, at approximately 11:15 pm, KCSO Officer Tucker Blakely, alongside his Echo Shift Colleagues, responded to a home in West Knox County to a call for help from a family in need. And they did what they do every day: answer the call. Once on scene, and for reasons unknown, a man began firing at KCSO Officers. Officers returned fire, killing the suspect. Officer Blakely was shot in the exchange of gunfire. AMR rushed him to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where, despite the efforts of EMS and the UT Medical Team, he died due to those injuries. Losing Officer Tucker Blakely is a painful reminder of how fragile life can be and how brave and selfless our Officers are. Officer Tucker Blakely was 29 years old. He leaves behind his wife, Katarina, a beautiful 5-year-old son, parents Mary & Tim Blakely, and two brothers, Ty (TJ) and Tyler Blakely. Officer Blakely graduated from the Knox County Regional Training Academy in 2021. Before completing KCSO’s Regional Training Academy, Officer Blakely served as a corrections officer in our corrections division, where he was respected and loved by his peers and supervisors alike. Most recently, Tucker was selected as a candidate for KCSO’s K-9 Handlers course. His K9 Partner, ENOCH, was placed with him two days before Tucker was shot. Tucker had dreams of being a K9 Handler and was excited for this new step in his career. Unfortunately, Officer Blakely will never be able to live out that dream—the life of a servant taken far too soon. In addition to serving his community, Officer Blakely also proudly served his country in the United States Army. Tucker’s last act of service was as an organ donor. There are people we may never know alive today because of his servant spirit. Tucker lived as a hero, and he died a hero; we at the Knox County Sheriff’s Office are better for having known Tucker. The Knox County Sheriff’s Office will remain faithful in honoring his memory!
Officer Toby Keiser
On January 18, 2021, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office lost another one of our own. Warrants Officer Toby Keiser left this earth after fiercely battling the effects of COVID-19 for his Heavenly home. Officer Keiser served at the Knox County Sheriff’s Office from December 14, 1992, until he retired on June 23, 2017. On October 12, 2020, Officer Keiser rejoined the Knox County Sheriff’s Office in the Warrants Unit. One of his most treasured accomplishments as a KCSO deputy, was being one of the first mounted patrolmen in the agency. There’s no doubt he’s left a lasting impact on the many men and women that he mentored throughout the years, but the fondest memories will be those celebrated not just as colleagues or brothers and sisters in blue but as lifelong friends. Sheriff Tom Spangler and Chief Deputy Bernie Lyon would like to acknowledge not only his faithful service to Knox County and to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office but to our country as well. Toby Keiser served in the United States Military where he received an honorable discharge.
Chief Keith Lyon
Chief Deputy Keith Lyon served the Knox County Sheriff’s office for 18 years before he was killed on May 9, 2006 in an automobile accident on Schaad Road when another vehicle crossed the center line and struck his department SUV head-on. Tim Hutchison, the Sheriff at the time of the incident, stated that “Chief Lyon was a dedicated worker, personal friend, and a great loss for the department. Even though we are a large agency and have 1,000 employees, everyone is fairly close. We work together and have worked together for along time." There are very few places inside The Sheriff’s Office where you aren’t reminded of Unit 7 and his lasting impact on the Agency. Chief Keith Lyon would be proud of many things here but, most importantly, he would be proud of his Brothers: Chief Deputy Bernie Lyon and Chaplain Lee Lyon.
Chief Keith Lyon
Chief Deputy Keith Lyon served the Knox County Sheriff’s office for 18 years before he was killed on May 9, 2006 in an automobile accident on Schaad Road when another vehicle crossed the center line and struck his department SUV head-on. Tim Hutchison, the Sheriff at the time of the incident, stated that “Chief Lyon was a dedicated worker and personal friend and will a great loss for the department. It's very hard even though we are a large agency and have 1,000 employees. Everyone is fairly close. We work together and have worked together for along time." There are very few places inside The Sheriff’s Office where you aren’t reminded of Unit 7 and his lasting impact on the Agency. Chief Keith Lyon would be proud of many things here, most importantly his Brother Chief Deputy Bernie Lyon and his Brother Chaplain Lee Lyon.
Officer Angela Payne
On February 26, 2000, just after 2 a.m., Angela Payne and another officer responded to a call about a shooting. Because there was no shoulder on the road, both officers parked in the north-bound lane of the two lane road. While standing in the lane confronting a suspect, both officers were struck from behind by another driver. Angela never regained consciousness and died from her injuries that same day. Payne, who was 31 years old, had been with KCSO since 1997 and was a 1998 graduate of the Sheriff's Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy. She had become a Patrol Officer in 1999.
Lieutenant Steve McCulley
Just shortly after noon on Tuesday, February 16, 1999, forty-seven year old Lt. Steve McCulley was in uniform and on his way to report to work for his afternoon shift. Lt. McCulley had just left his home in the nearby Brixworth subdivision in Farragut when he suddenly changed course and headed toward the Taylor's Landing subdivision. It is theorized that he saw something suspicious and turned around to investigate. As he crossed the railroad tracks, a Norfolk Southern train struck his police vehicle. After being transported by Lifestar helicopter, Lt. McCulley later died at The University of Tennessee Medical Center. McCulley was a 21-year veteran of KCSO who received many awards and commendations during his career.
Detective James Kennedy
On the night of March 26, 1984 Detective James Kennedy and Detective Larry Johnson were investigating a report of a stolen vehicle at a West Knox County motel. While interviewing one individual in the room, a second individual appeared from behind the door and began to struggle with the detectives. Detective Johnson was able to pull the first individual out of the room and to safety. Sadly, Kennedy was not so lucky. The suspect began shooting through the door with a 9mm pistol, striking him multiple times. Detective Kennedy died at approximately 12:15 a.m. on March 27, 1984; he was twenty-nine years old. The suspect went on to commit suicide, he was a parole violator who was wanted for murder in North Carolina. Kennedy had served with KCSO for two years and previously served with the Fairfax County Police Department in Virginia.
Officer Harley Beecher Nelson
On July 6, 1947, a livestock dealer had called authorities after he caught a man tearing down a fence on his property, who shot at the dealer when confronted. When officers arrived the dealer accompanied them to a nearby shack where the suspect lived. Officer Nelson went to the front door as the other officer went around back. Moments later the subject shot Nelson in the chest, killing him. The other officer ran around to the front and tried to pull Nelson's body to their patrol car but was fired at by the subject. The officer retreated to safety and called for backup. Responding county, city, and state units arrived and were involved in a prolonged shootout with the subject, who was eventually shot and killed inside of the shack. Officer Nelson was 31 years old and a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII.
Officer Ralph W. King
On September 10, 1933, Officer Ralph King succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained two days earlier when he and two others were ambushed while searching for a still. Several moonshiners opened fire as officers approached the area, striking King and another officer with a shotgun blast. Both were transported to a Knoxville hospital in critical condition. Unfortunately, King would go on to pass from his injuries. Seven subjects were arrested in connection with the shooting. Two of the men were charged with first degree murder while the others had their charges dropped. The other two, brothers, were convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to 21 years each. On January 15, 1939, Governor Gordan Browning commuted their convictions and sentences to 3 to 10 years for voluntary manslaughter.
Officer George S. Williams
On June 3, 1927, Officer George Williams was shot and killed as he, other deputies, and federal officers attempted to arrest a man wanted for liquor violations. George was fifty years old. They had located the man by following his girlfriend who had just been released from jail. When the two met, Williams immediately placed the man under arrest and put him in handcuffs. Moments later, the man's father appeared and fired two blasts from a shotgun. The first blast wounded another officer and struck his own son in the neck, killing him. The second blast struck Officer Williams in the abdomen, killing him as well. The 70-year-old father was arrested and charged with two counts of murder. On April 2, 1928, he was convicted of Williams' murder and sentenced to life.
Officer William Walker
On July 21, 1906, Officer William Walker was shot and killed while investigating the robbery of a well-known doctor. Unbeknownst to Walker, the suspect had murdered another man earlier in the evening while intruding a private residence with his father and an unknown woman. After fleeing the murder scene, the men of the group robbed a doctor of his horse and buggy. The doctor then went to Walker's home, informed him of the crime, and asked that he accompany him to locate the group. The two located the group a short time later and Officer Walker announced they were under arrest. The suspect fired, striking Walker in the spine. He was taken to Lincoln Memorial Hospital where he died one week later. The shooter's father turned himself in, but the shooter fled. The suspect was eventually apprehended, convicted, and hanged on March 23, 1908.
Doctor A John Shipe
On May 21, 1888, Deputy Sheriff Doctor (John) Shipe went to a railroad construction site with another deputy to arrest a suspect wanted on a warrant. They located the suspect, who was lying in bed, and Shipe informed him he had a warrant for his arrest on the charge of robbery. While reading the warrant aloud, the suspect drew a hidden pistol and fired it - striking Deputy Shipe in the chest, killing him. John was thirty-nine years old. His killing led to a 4 day state-wide manhunt, where the subject was captured and charged with murder. On May 25, 1888, he was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging.
Detective James Kennedy
On the night of March 26, 1984 Detective James Kennedy and Detective Larry Johnson were investigating a report of a stolen vehicle at a West Knox County motel. While interviewing one individual in the room, a second individual appeared from behind the door and began to struggle with the detectives. Detective Johnson was able to pull the first individual out of the room and to safety but Detective Kennedy was shot multiple times and died at approximately 12:15 a.m. on March 27, 1984.
If you would like to recognize any of these fine officers or others, please feel free to contact us
Thanks to Officer Romines!
We would like to show our appreciation to Officer Sandy Romines who spent many hours of her personal time conducting research for this Officer Memorial and KCSO History. Officer Romines also took the initiative to take the information she gathered and create the video above. Thank you, Officer Romines!
