Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff John Benton was shot and killed near the Watts Bar Dam while attempting to arrest a man for public drunkenness at a local dance hall shortly before midnight.
The man, who was a laborer building the nearby dam for the Tennessee Valley Authority, resisted arrest and was fatally shot by Sheriff Benton. Moments later the man's son shot and killed Sheriff Benton. The son then took his father's body and fled back to their home where he was arrested by two state highway patrolmen several hours later. A second man was arrested and charged in connection with Sheriff Benton's murder.
The man's son, 18, claiming self defense, was tried and acquitted on November 24, 1942.
Sheriff Benton was survived by his wife.
Survivors
Sheriff Benton was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-36F927D4- 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.
Sheriff Benton served with the Meigs County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Decatur community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Benton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff John M. Benton 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 Meigs County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John M. Benton's cause is highlighted.
How John M. Benton Compares
Offender Outcome
Acquitted
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John M. Benton is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John M. Benton was killed by handgun; pistol.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Meigs County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
