Rick Finley
Agency patch
Sergeant

Rick Finley

Felonious Veteran
End of Watch December 14, 2024
Age 39
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
The Vigil Panel 183 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Rick Finley, who was working part-time for the Selmer Police Department, was shot and killed while responding to a suspicious person complaint at the 100 block of New Bethel Road in Selmer at 3:00 p.m.

A subject was attempting to break into a home. When Sergeant Finley arrived at the scene, the subject attacked him, shooting Sergeant Finley multiple times. The suspect was shot and killed by another responding officer.

He was transported to the nearest hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Sergeant Finley was a United States Army National Guard veteran. He had served part-time with the Selmer Police Department while also serving with the McNairy County Sheriff's Office, where he worked for 13 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-209243A3
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 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.
Sergeant Finley gave the McNairy County Sheriff's Office 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Selmer community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location Selmer, TN
Platform Identity mcso.mcnairy.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 14, 2024
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
Age 39
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Not available
Offender Shot and killed

Military Service

Rick Finley served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Sergeant Rick Finley 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 McNairy County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

McNairy County Sheriff's Office
3
of 6 officers
50% Felonious
TN — Statewide
498
of 769 officers
64.8% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Rick Finley's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Rick Finley Compares

Age at End of Watch
39
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
13
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Rick Finley is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Rick Finley was killed by not available.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location