Sumner A. Dillard

Shelbyville Police Department — Shelbyville, TN

Felonious

End of Watch March 1, 1936

Age 52

Tour of Duty 5 mo

The Vigil Panel 71 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Chief of Police Sumner Dillard was shot and killed after he and an officer had just arrested two subjects for illegally transporting liquor and fleeing from officers at 11:00 a.m. After a short pursuit, the officers finally stopped the vehicle on Fishing Ford Road, west of Shelbyville. Chief Sumner and another officer arrested the two subjects. They were driving away when the owner of the alcohol opened fire on the patrol car with a .30 caliber rifle, striking Chief Dillard in the back of the head. The suspect was apprehended at the scene and later charged with first-degree murder. He was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 10- 20 years. Chief Dillard had served with the Shelbyville Police Department for over five months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TN-6491E132
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Dillard served with the Shelbyville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Shelbyville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Dillard.

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

Agency

Department Shelbyville Police Department

Location Shelbyville, TN

Platform Identity spd.bedford.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 1, 1936

Tour of Duty 5 mo

Age 52

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; .30 caliber

Offender Sentenced to 10-20 years

Chief of Police Sumner A. Dillard 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 Shelbyville Police Department, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Shelbyville Police Department

of 5 officers

60% Felonious

TN — Statewide

498

of 769 officers

64.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious