Roll of Honor

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Constable

Bruce Barker

Sullivan County Twelfth District Constable's Office — Bristol, TN

Felonious

End of Watch May 30, 1938

Age 29

The Vigil Panel 74 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Constable Bruce Barker was shot and killed as he and several officers attempted to apprehend a fugitive from justice near Kingsport.

The suspect opened fire on the officers, killing Constable Barker. Other officers returned fire and wounded the suspect, who was arrested a short time later.

Patrolman George Frazier, of the Kingsport Police Department, suffered a fatal heart attack during the shootout.

The suspect, 24, was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Constable Barker is survived by his wife, son, and two daughters.

Survivors

Constable Barker is survived by his wife, son, and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TN-8F3FE772
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Constable Barker served with the Sullivan County Twelfth District Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Bristol community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Barker.

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

Agency

Department Sullivan County Twelfth District Constable's Office

Type Other

Location Bristol, TN

Platform Identity sctdco.sullivan.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 30, 1938

Age 29

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Constable Bruce Barker is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,586 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 10.9 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.

Sullivan County Twelfth District Constable's Office

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

TN — Statewide

498

of 769 officers

64.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,559

of 32,586 officers

53.9% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Bruce Barker's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,559 (53.9%)

Accident

10,094 (31%)

Illness

3,037 (9.3%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

334 (1%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

How Bruce Barker Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Bruce Barker is highlighted in May.

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. Bruce Barker was killed by handgun.

Handgun

3,684

Gun

3,592

Gun; Unknown type

1,492

Shotgun

1,109

Rifle

935

Officer's handgun

909