Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff "Red" Lott was shot and killed while responding to an alarm at Cedartown High School. Sheriff Lott had just finished eating dinner with his family when he stopped by the office to check-in. He was there when the alarm at the high school went off and decided to investigate it on his way home. Sheriff Lott and a trustee, Benjamin Franklin Clark, responded to the alarm. The second alarm sounded just as Sheriff Lott and Mr. Clark arrived on the scene. Sheriff Lott radioed back and learned that someone was apparently coming out of the building. Sheriff Lott drove around to the back of the school, where he noticed a man sitting inside a vehicle, the headlights on and the motor running. The sheriff stepped out of his patrol car, and as he approached the vehicle, he asked, "What are you doing?" The man then stepped out of the vehicle and fired a total of six shots. Sheriff Lott was shot three times in the chest, abdomen, and leg. He was killed by a gunshot wound to the chest. Mr. Clark managed to take Sheriff Lott's gun and fire at the suspect as he drove away. The fleeing suspect returned fire, and Mr. Clark was wounded twice in the leg and groin area. Sheriff Lott was transported to Polk County General Hospital, where he died 45 minutes later. A suspect was later tried for Sheriff Lott's murder in 1998 but acquitted. The case officially remains unsolved. Sheriff Lott was a United States Army veteran of World War II and had served with the Polk County Sheriff's Office for 12 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-7426C877- 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.
Sheriff Lott gave the Polk County Sheriff's Office 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cedartown 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Frank E. "Red" Lott served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Sheriff Frank E. "Red" Lott 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 Polk County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Frank E. "Red" Lott's cause is highlighted.
How Frank E. "Red" Lott Compares
Offender Outcome
Acquitted
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Frank E. "Red" Lott is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Frank E. "Red" Lott was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Polk County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
