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Incident
Sergeant Waldrop succumbed to injuries sustained the previous day in an automobile accident in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. He was riding in a vehicle being driven by another trooper as the two responded to a call involving other officers involved in a foot pursuit. As they responded down Highway 41 a vehicle pulled out of Moncrief Avenue, causing them to collide with the vehicle. Sergeant Waldrop was treated and released from the hospital but suffered a fatal blood clot the following day while recovering at home. Sergeant Waldrop had served with the agency for 9 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Staff Sergeant Waldrop gave the Tennessee Highway Patrol 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Tennessee. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Staff Sergeant Waldrop.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Tennessee Highway Patrol has lost 41 officers; 30 of them lost to accidents.
Fred is one of 191 officers lost to accidents in TN, 24.8% of the 769 remembered there.
Fred is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Fred is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1950, 1 officer at Tennessee Highway Patrol was lost to accidents, the 5th heaviest of 25 years on record. The heaviest was 1934, with 3.
In 1950, 2 officers in TN were lost to accidents, the 25th heaviest of 99 years on record. The heaviest was 2000, with 6.
In 1950, 58 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 77th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1950, 65 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 82nd heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Fred was 37. Of the 30 lost to accidents at Tennessee Highway Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 27.3 and 37; the middle age was 32. Fred had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Fred was 37. Of the 183 lost to accidents in TN whose age is recorded, half were between 30.5 and 49; the middle age was 38. Fred had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Fred was 37. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Fred had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Fred was 37. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Fred had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 13.3% of these deaths at Tennessee Highway Patrol; August holds the most, 16.7%. Thursdays: 6.7%.
March holds 8.4% of these deaths in TN; September holds the most, 11.5%. Thursdays: 11.5%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 73.2% of all 41 deaths at Tennessee Highway Patrol, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 24.8% of all 769 deaths in TN, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Tennessee Highway Patrol has 41 officers remembered here, Fred among them.
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Charles Monroe Hash
Apr 11, 1930
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Walter Ray Jones Jul 31, 1933
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Lee Glenn Loveless Feb 3, 1934
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Clovis Lee Cole May 2, 1934
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Edward Eugene Kennedy
Aug 22, 1934
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Lindsey Blake Smith
Dec 17, 1934
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Landon Earl Hicks Jun 17, 1936
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Paul Summers
Aug 8, 1936
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Carl Douglas Hickman
Sep 15, 1937
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Lewis R. Boone
Oct 18, 1938
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Charles Joseph Gearhiser Nov 12, 1938
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William Howard James
Sep 14, 1942
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William Hinkle Crutcher Aug 3, 1944
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Fred Cole Waldrop
Mar 9, 1950
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Oliver Deward Williamson
Mar 21, 1952
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Oscar Newton Morris
Apr 19, 1956
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Lewis Raymond Hendon Jun 15, 1957
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Edward Clay Jowers Jul 18, 1962
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Joseph Emanuel Dillard
Aug 24, 1964
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William Gordon Barnes Jan 7, 1966
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Michael Theodore Dafferner Apr 6, 1966
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Samual W. Gibbs
Aug 11, 1966
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Eugene Brakebill
Oct 9, 1966
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Roy Alford Mynatt
Feb 11, 1968
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C. B. Martin
May 4, 1969
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Paul Lynn Mooneyham, Sr.
Apr 4, 1981
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Samuel Freeman Holcomb, Jr.
Mar 27, 1988
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Douglas Wayne Tripp
May 19, 1991
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George Van Dorse Holcomb
Jan 26, 1992
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James David Perry
Oct 3, 1999
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Bobby J. Maples
Nov 5, 1999
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Lynn McCarthy Ross
Jul 26, 2000
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John Gregory Mann
Jan 1, 2001
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John Robert Davis
Mar 17, 2001
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Todd Michael Larkins
Jul 8, 2005
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Calvin Wayne Jenks
Jan 6, 2007
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Andrew Thomas Wall
May 7, 2011
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Michael Wayne Slagle
Jan 25, 2013
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Matthew Elias Gatti
May 6, 2019
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Vince Arnold Mullins
Jan 28, 2022
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Harold Lee Russell, II
Aug 23, 2022
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
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