William Matt Partin
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

William Matt Partin

Felonious
End of Watch February 9, 1957
Age 64
Tour of Duty 5 mo
The Vigil Panel 92 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff William Partin was shot and killed by a man who approached his vehicle in the area of Rose's Creek.

He and another deputy were sitting in their vehicle across the street from two taverns, observing the the establishments. A man came out of one of the taverns and began speaking to another person in a vehicle. After the vehicle drove away the man went to his car, obtained a shotgun, and then the walked towards the deputies and ordered them to stay in the car.

Deputy Partin exited the vehicle and exchanged shots with the subject, striking in the face, before being shot in the chest and killed. The other deputy was able to shoot the man in the body before being shot in the arm, which later had to be amputated.

The subject died of his wounds.

Deputy Partin had served with the Campbell County Sheriff's Office for only five months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, and four sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-DDDC2D24
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew William. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Partin served with the Campbell County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Jacksboro community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Partin.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Jacksboro, Campbell County, TN
Platform Identity ccso.campbell.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 9, 1957
Tour of Duty 5 mo
Age 64
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Shotgun

Deputy Sheriff William Matt Partin 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 Campbell County Sheriff's Office, 10 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Campbell County Sheriff's Office
10
of 10 officers
100% Felonious
TN — Statewide
498
of 769 officers
64.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Matt Partin's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How William Matt Partin Compares

Age at Death
64
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0.4
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Matt Partin is highlighted in Feb.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Matt Partin was killed by shotgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909