Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Bruce Owens succumbed to gunshot wound sustained in 1982 during an escape. A work-release prisoner was being released to go to his night shift job by an unarmed jailer. As he opened the cell door a convicted felon being held for another department forced his way out. Sergeant Owens walked in and tried to take custody of the escapee and return him to the cell. The prisoner resisted and during the scuffle he shot him with his weapon. The escapee then took two officers hostage and forced them to drive him in a patrol car to an area in the northern part of Rhea County and forced the officers to handcuff themselves to the screen and made his getaway. He eluded a massive manhunt by numerous officers from several departments. The escapee later committed an armed robbery in Louisiana, shooting a responding officer, however, the officer was able, with some help, to get back into his patrol car and and chase the suspect to a residence a few blocks away. Officers responded and surrounded the house and after a brief standoff, heard a gun shot from inside the house and entered to find the suspect dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Sergeant Owens was paralyzed from the waist down and succumbed to complications from the gunshot wound on Sergeant Owens had served with the Rhea County Sheriff's
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-TN-23CE1268- Stewardship
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- 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.
Sergeant Owens gave the Rhea County Sheriff's Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Dayton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Owens.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Bruce Owens 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 97,756 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 Rhea County Sheriff's Department, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Bruce Owens's cause is highlighted.
How Bruce Owens Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Bruce Owens is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Bruce Owens was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Rhea County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
