Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief Robert Nolen succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous day when he and an officer attempted to arrest man wanted for bootlegging.
The officers located the man at his home and informed him he was under arrest. The man was granted permission to get his hat before being taken from the home. When the man failed to return to the door, the officers entered and were confronted by the man with a gun. The suspect immediately opened fire, striking Chief Nolen in the arm and abdomen. The other officer returned fire and wounded the suspect. Chief Nolen was immediately taken to a doctor's office where he underwent surgery before succumbing to his wounds.
A few hours later an angry mob seized the supect from the jail and hanged him.
Chief Nolen was survived by his wife.
Survivors
Chief Nolen was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-TN-C182F3C9- Stewardship
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- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Nolen served with the Lebanon Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Lebanon community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Nolen.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Robert E. Nolen 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert E. Nolen's cause is highlighted.
How Robert E. Nolen Compares
Offender Outcome
Lynched
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert E. Nolen is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert E. Nolen was killed by gun; unknown type.