Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Newson was shot and killed while assisting another deputy with an eviction notice. When the suspect answered the door he began to argue with the officers and then retreated into his house. As the deputies returned to their patrol car to call for backup the suspect opened the door again and opened fire with a shotgun, striking Deputy Newson three times. The other deputy was shot and wounded by one of the shotgun blasts. Neither deputy was wearing a vest at the time. The 35-year-old suspect was deemed incompetent and sent to a mental institution. In 2006 it was determined he was fit to stand trial. On November 28, 2006, the suspect was convicted of Deputy Newson's murder and sentenced to life in prison. In 2009 the Tennessee Court of Appeals awarded him a new trial, stating that during his first trial the court did not consider his sanity properly. He was released at some point after 2010. Deputy Newson had been with the agency for7 years. He was survived by his son. In September 2020, Summer Place was renamed Jerry Newsom Way, where the old Sheriff's Office building was.
Survivors
He was survived by his son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-4E260653- 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 Newson gave the Davidson County Sheriff's Office 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Nashville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Newson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Jerry Newson Jr. 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 Davidson County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jerry Newson Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Jerry Newson Jr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jerry Newson Jr. is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jerry Newson Jr. was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from Davidson County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
