Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Jack Hunter was shot and killed as he and a deputy attempted to service a non-support warrant on a subject in the Jones Station community, approximately nine miles north of Brownsville near the modern-day Dr. Hess Road.
The man refused to exit the home when Sheriff Hunter advised him of the warrant. The man instead ran further into the home, prompting Sheriff Hunter to walk to the back of the home house to prevent the man from escaping. As Sheriff Hunter walked around the back corner of the home the man shot through his screen door with a 12 gauge shotgun, killing him.
The deputy went to a neighbor's home and called for backup. The man, 49, was taken into custody without further incident and charged with Sheriff Hunter's murder. He was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to 20 years. He pleaded for a new trial based on new evidence. He was given a new trial, found guilty of murder again and sentenced to 30 years on February 10, 1960.
Sheriff Hunter had served with the Haywood County Sheriff's Office for 19 years in alternating capacities as chief deputy and sheriff. He was survived by his wife, three sons, two daughters, seven grandchildren, one great-grandchild, four brothers, and two sisters. One of his brothers served as the chief deputy and was appointed as sheriff to fill the vacancy left by Sheriff Hunter's death.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three sons, two daughters, seven grandchildren, one great-grandchild, four brothers, and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-DFD9F1D8- 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.
Sheriff Hunter gave the Haywood County Sheriff's Office 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Brownsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Hunter.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff John Sidney Hunter Sr. 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 Haywood County Sheriff'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. John Sidney Hunter Sr.'s cause is highlighted.
How John Sidney Hunter Sr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Sidney Hunter Sr. is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Sidney Hunter Sr. was killed by shotgun; 12 gauge.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Haywood County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
