Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Ricky Coyle was shot and killed while investigating a hit-and-run in a remote area of the county on Stagecoach Road in Greeneville. During the investigation, he radioed in that he needed an ambulance. An off-duty officer who responded to the scene found Sergeant Coyle slumped over his steering wheel and discovered that he had been shot three times. One shot was stopped by his vest, one entered below his vest, and a third entered through the side, rupturing his spleen. Other arriving units found the body of the suspect approximately 30 yards away, suffering from five gunshot wounds. The investigation revealed that the two men were standing within a few feet of each other when they exchanged shots. The suspect was later found to be a fugitive from Alabama who was wanted for arson and other felonies. Sergeant Coyle was a U.S. Air Force veteran who had served with the Greene County Sheriff's Department for 16 years and had previously served one year with the Northern Illinois University Police Department.
Survivors
He is survived by his mother and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-1F179EAC- 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.
Sergeant Coyle gave the Greene County Sheriff's Office 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Greeneville 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
Ricky Dale Coyle served in the Air Force (1974â1977) before joining law enforcement.
Sergeant Ricky Dale Coyle 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 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 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Greene County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 8 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. Ricky Dale Coyle's cause is highlighted.
How Ricky Dale Coyle Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ricky Dale Coyle is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ricky Dale Coyle was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from Greene County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
