Earl Wesley Koger
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Earl Wesley Koger

Scott County Sheriff's Office — Huntsville, TN
Felonious
End of Watch January 18, 1964
Age 28
The Vigil Panel 99 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Earl Koger was shot and killed as he and another deputy investigated a disturbance in the Elgin community. They had responded to the area after receiving reports that a man had threatened several people with a shotgun. They went to the man's home to question him but the man's wife told them he wasn't home. The man suddenly emerged and shot Deputy Koger, killing him. The suspect was arrested an hour later. On March 20, 1964, the man, 22, was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 10 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-58FFAFB4
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Koger served with the Scott County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Huntsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Koger.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Huntsville, Scott County, TN
Platform Identity scso.scott.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 18, 1964
Age 28
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

Deputy Sheriff Earl Wesley Koger 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 Scott County Sheriff's Office, 8 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Scott County Sheriff's Office
8
of 8 officers
100% 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. Earl Wesley Koger's cause is highlighted.

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

How Earl Wesley Koger Compares

Age at Death
28
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Earl Wesley Koger is highlighted in Jan.

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. Earl Wesley Koger was killed by shotgun.

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

Incident Location