Dan Mull
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Dan Mull

Felonious
End of Watch August 20, 1975
Age 54
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 6 mo
The Vigil Panel 116 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Dan Mull was shot and killed as he ate breakfast at a truck stop. Three people who had just committed an armed robbery thought that he was there to arrest them. The suspects walked up behind him and shot him. Deputy Mull was unaware that the armed robbery had taken place. The suspects, two men, 22 and 23, and a girl 19, fled in a pickup truck. Deputy Mull's nephew, who worked at the truck stop, and a truck driver chased the suspects in his uncle's patrol car; ran them off the road and held them at gunpoint until deputies arrived. The 23-year-old gunman was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. His sentence was later commuted to life. He died in prison at some point after his last mug shot was taken on April 17, 2018. His companion was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 20 years. Charges against the girl were dropped.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-A53110FE
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.
Deputy Sheriff Mull gave the McMinn County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Athens community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Mull.

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

Agency

Location Athens, TN
Platform Identity mcso.mcminn.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 20, 1975
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 6 mo
Age 54
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun; .22 caliber
Offender Died in prison

Deputy Sheriff Dan Mull 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 McMinn County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

McMinn County Sheriff's Office
1
of 3 officers
33.3% Felonious
TN — Statewide
498
of 769 officers
64.8% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Dan Mull Compares

Age at End of Watch
54
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
2.5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Died in prison

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Dan Mull is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Dan Mull was killed by handgun; .22 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from McMinn County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.