Roll of Honor
Incident
Special Deputy Sheriff Dick Burrus was shot and killed as he and a deputy attempted to question three brothers who were creating a disturbance at a church service in Owl City.
Several churchgoers had informed the other deputy about the disturbance. The deputy deputized Dick Burrus to assist him in arresting the three.
As the deputies walked the men out of the church one of the men suddenly drew a handgun and shot both of them. Special Deputy Burrus succumbed to his wounds the following day.
All three brothers were arrested and held in jail at Tiptonville. After Deputy Burrus' death the suspects were removed from the jail by a mob, returned to Owl City, and lynched inside of the church where they had shot the deputies.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-E00AA50E- 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.
Special Deputy Sheriff Burrus served with the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Tiptonville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Deputy Sheriff Burrus.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Deputy Sheriff Richard Burrus 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard Burrus's cause is highlighted.
How Richard Burrus Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Burrus is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard Burrus was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Lake County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.