James Pascal Anderson

Grundy County Sheriff's Department — Altamont, TN

Felonious

End of Watch May 23, 1953

The Vigil Panel 89 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Deputy Sheriff James Anderson was severely beaten after arresting a suspect on a charge of disturbing public worship at the Sweeton Hill Methodist Church on May 17, 1953 Deputy Anderson, with another deputy, attended the church service upon request of church leaders who complained that services had been disturbed on several previous occasions. During the service, the suspect started talking audibly to companions while the minister was delivering his sermon. Deputy Anderson placed him under arrest and removed him from the church. It was outside the church that the fight occurred. Deputy Anderson died six days following the altercation while at Edminster’s Clinic at Cumberland Heights. The suspect was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to the minimum term of not less than two nor more than three years of incarceration.

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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 Anderson served with the Grundy County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Altamont community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Anderson.

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

Agency

Department Grundy County Sheriff's Department

Type Other

Location Altamont, Grundy County, TN

Platform Identity gcso.grundy.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 23, 1953

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Person

Deputy Sheriff James Pascal Anderson 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 Grundy County Sheriff's Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Grundy County Sheriff's Department

of 4 officers

100% Felonious

TN — Statewide

498

of 769 officers

64.8% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious