Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable Grady Dillehay was shot and killed as he and two state troopers attempted to arrest an escapee from the county workhouse. The man had escaped while working on a chain gang.
The troopers and Constable Dillehay went to the man's home on the Santa Fe Highway, two miles north of Columbia, shortly after midnight and yelled out to him to surrender. When he asked if they had a warrant, Constable Dillehay responded that they did. The man then fired a 20-gauge shotgun out the window, striking Constable Dillehay in the face.
Constable Dillehay was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The suspect surrendered to officers about 30 minutes after the shooting.
The suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 99 years in prison. He was eventually paroled and died in 2006.
Constable Dillehay had been elected constable of the Ninth District in 1960 and had previously served as a deputy with the Maury County Sheriff's Office.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, two step-children, brother, sister, half-brother, and mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-7DA5D332- 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.
Constable Dillehay gave the Maury County Constable's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Dillehay.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable Grady Dillehay 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 Maury County Constable's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Grady Dillehay's cause is highlighted.
How Grady Dillehay Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 99 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Grady Dillehay is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Grady Dillehay was killed by shotgun; 20 gauge.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Maury County Constable's Office are honored on badge.nw.
