Roll of Honor
John Carver
Incident
Location: Tennessee Weapon: Shotgun Offender: Not available
Posseman John Carver was shot and killed in Cocke County, Tennessee, while attempting to arrest a still owner.
He was part of a larger federal posse that had located a 70-gallon still just over the state line in Haywood County, North Carolina. The posse had arrested one of the still operators at the scene and then sent Posseman Carver and a second posseman to the other operator's nearby home in Cocke County to arrest him. The man refused to let the officers in and then opened fire with a shotgun, striking Posseman Carver in the chest.
The second officer retreated to obtain reinforcements. It is not known if Posseman Carver's murderer was ever apprehended.
Posseman Carver was murdered approximately 400 yards from where Cocke County, Tennessee, Sheriff Joseph Dawson was murdered on April 20th, 1899.
Posseman Carver was survived by his parents.
Survivors
Posseman Carver was survived by his parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-9C235BF4- 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.
Posseman Carver served with the United States Department of the Treasury.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Posseman Carver.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Posseman John Carver 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue, 25 of 27 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 92.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Carver's cause is highlighted.
How John Carver Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Carver is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Carver was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
26 officers from United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
