Blake Washington Head
Agency patch
Sheriff

Blake Washington Head

Felonious
End of Watch March 18, 1942
Age 43
The Vigil Panel 79 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sheriff Blake Head was shot and killed after responding to a domestic disturbance call at about 6:45 pm.

He and two deputies responded to a residence to answer a call of a man threating to kill his family. As Sheriff Head stepped out of his vehicle he was shot and killed by rifle fire. The two deputies returned fire, killing the subject.

Sheriff Head was survived by his wife and child.

He and two deputies responded to a residence to answer a call of a man threating to kill his family. As Sheriff Head stepped out of his vehicle he was shot and killed by rifle fire. The two deputies returned fire, killing the subject.

Survivors

Sheriff Head was survived by his wife and child.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-1587F7A7
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Blake. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sheriff Head served with the Unicoi County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Erwin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Head.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Erwin, Unicoi County, TN
Platform Identity ucso.unicoi.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 18, 1942
Age 43
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Rifle

Sheriff Blake Washington Head is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 64.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Unicoi County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Unicoi County Sheriff's Department
2
of 3 officers
66.7% Felonious
TN — Statewide
498
of 769 officers
64.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Blake Washington Head's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Blake Washington Head Compares

Age at Death
43
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Blake Washington Head is highlighted in Mar.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Blake Washington Head was killed by rifle.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Unicoi County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.