Samuel Dean Gentry

DeKalb County Police Department — Tucker, GA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch April 8, 1925

Age 26

The Vigil Panel 48 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 32

Incident

Officer Gentry was shot and killed by a suspect he was attempting to arrest for illegally transporting 14 gallons of whiskey. Officer Gentry ran the suspect's car off the road near Sams Corssing. The suspect then fled on foot and a running gun battle ensued in which Officer Gentry was shot and killed. The suspect, 38, was later arrested and sentenced to life in prison. He escaped on August 9, 1926. Officer Gentry was a U.S Army veteran of World war I and served with the Dekalb County Police Department for one year.

Survivors

He previously served with the Clarkston Police Department and was survived by his wife, young son, his mother, brother and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-GA-41AED159
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Officer Gentry served with the DeKalb County Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Tucker community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department DeKalb County Police Department

Location Tucker, GA

Platform Identity dcpd.dekalb.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 8, 1925

Age 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender At large

Military Service

Samuel Dean Gentry served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Officer Samuel Dean Gentry 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At DeKalb County Police Department, 16 of 33 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 48.5% of this agency's fallen.

DeKalb County Police Department

of 33 officers

48.5% Felonious

GA — Statewide

548

of 903 officers

60.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious