Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief Deputy Sheriff Calvin Lee and Deputy John Wright, of the Dyer County Sheriff's Office, were shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance call about 1.5 miles west of Elkridge. Deputy Wright was the first deputy on the scene and was ambushed as he and a companion approached the house. The suspect had been hiding in the back seat of his car and opened fire on Deputy Wright, killing him and mortally wounding his companion. The man then shot and killed Chief Deputy Lee when he arrived on the scene. The 35-year-old suspect was never charged with the deputies' murders but was convicted of Deputy Wright's companion's murder and sentenced to 99 years in prison. In 1960 Governor Buford Ellington commuted his sentence to life, making him eligible for parole. He was paroled in 1963 and died in 1974.
Survivors
Chief Deputy Sheriff Lee was survived by his wife, daughter, and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-CCB9A735- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief Deputy Sheriff Lee served with the Obion County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Union City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief Deputy Sheriff Lee.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief Deputy Sheriff John Calvin Lee 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 97,756 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 Obion 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 Calvin Lee's cause is highlighted.
How John Calvin Lee Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Calvin Lee is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Calvin Lee was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Obion County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
