Roll of Honor
John Morgan Bilbrey
Incident
Deputy John Bilbrey was struck and killed by a vehicle while working at the Putnam County Jail. A tractor trailer drove into the jail, crushing Deputy Bilbrey. Deputy Bilbrey was a United States Army World War I and II veteran who had served with the Putnam County Sheriff's Department for ten years and previously served with the Cookeville Police. He was survived by his wife and three children. He was interred at the Salem Methodist Church Cemetery in Cookeville.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-8923A22B- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Bilbrey gave the Putnam County Sheriff's Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cookeville community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John Morgan Bilbrey served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Deputy Sheriff John Morgan Bilbrey is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.
In TN, 191 of 769 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 24.8% of this state's fallen. That is 24.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Putnam County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 4 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Morgan Bilbrey's cause is highlighted.
How John Morgan Bilbrey Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. John Morgan Bilbrey is highlighted in Sep.
Incident Location
Military Service
John Morgan Bilbrey served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit John Morgan Bilbrey’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Putnam County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
