Robert A. Rogers

Polk County Sheriff's Office — Benton, TN

Felonious

End of Watch March 8, 1958

Age 59

The Vigil Panel 93 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Bob Rogers and Chief Deputy James Wright were shot and killed from ambush as they conducted a routine check of the Turtletown Grill on State Highway 68. Two hidden gunmen opened fire on them with shotguns as they stepped out of their patrol car. Chief Deputy Wright and Deputy Rogers were both struck by the shotgun blasts and killed. A third deputy returned fire but did not strike the suspects. The suspects were never identified. Authorities felt the murders were the result of years of feuding between county politicians and there was a question as to whether there were one or two suspects. Exactly one year later the tavern they were checking was bombed. Deputy Rogers also served as the police chief of the Tennessee Copper Plant in Copperhill.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and ten children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TN-ABB1709B
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.
Deputy Sheriff Rogers served with the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Benton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Rogers.

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

Agency

Department Polk County Sheriff's Office

Type Sheriff's Office

Location Benton, Polk County, TN

Platform Identity pcso.polk.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 8, 1958

Age 59

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Deputy Sheriff Robert A. Rogers 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%.

At Polk County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Polk County Sheriff's Office

of 5 officers

100% Felonious

TN — Statewide

498

of 769 officers

64.8% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious