Roll of Honor
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
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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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
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Blake Washington Head is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Blake Washington Head's cause is highlighted.
How Blake Washington Head Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Blake Washington Head is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Blake Washington Head was killed by rifle.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Unicoi County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
