Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Jay Chastain was shot and killed at approximately 2:10 am during a traffic stop near the intersection of Highway 2 and Highway 288 in Hiawassee, Georgia. As one of his deputies arrested the driver of the vehicle for DWI and placed him in the cruiser, Sheriff Chastain approached the passenger of the vehicle. The man opened fire with a .38 caliber revolver, striking Sheriff Chastain in the chest. The subject was shot and killed following a standoff with deputies from the Towns County Sheriff's Office and Union County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Chastain had served with the Towns County Sheriff's Office for six years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and 5-year-old son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-BBEC7350- 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.
Sheriff Chastain gave the Towns County Sheriff's Office 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Young Harris community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Chastain.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Jay Vernon Chastain, Sr. 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 Towns 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. Jay Vernon Chastain, Sr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Jay Vernon Chastain, Sr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jay Vernon Chastain, Sr. is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jay Vernon Chastain, Sr. was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Towns County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
