James Louis Wright

Polk County Sheriff's Office — Benton, TN

Felonious

End of Watch March 8, 1958

Age 49

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

The Vigil Panel 93 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Chief Deputy James Wright and Deputy Bob Rogers were shot and killed from ambush as they conducted a routine check of the Turtletown Grill on State Highway 68. Two hidden gunmen opened fire on them with shotguns as they stepped out of their patrol car. Chief Deputy Wright and Deputy Rogers were both struck by the shotgun blasts and killed. A third deputy returned fire but did not strike the suspects. The suspects were never identified. Authorities felt the murders were the result of years of feuding between county politicians and there was a question as to whether there were one or two suspects. Exactly one year later the tavern they were checking was bombed. Chief Deputy Wright had served with the Polk County Sheriff's Office for nine years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TN-25EE5AE9
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.
Chief Deputy Wright gave the Polk County Sheriff's Office 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Benton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief Deputy Wright.

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

Agency

Department Polk County Sheriff's Office

Location Benton, TN

Platform Identity pcso.polk.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 8, 1958

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Age 49

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Never identified

Chief Deputy James Louis Wright 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 Polk County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Polk County Sheriff's Office

of 5 officers

100% Felonious

TN — Statewide

498

of 769 officers

64.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious