Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Herbert Slayton was shot and killed while checking on a vehicle. The suspect, who was an AWOL soldier from the US Army, had set up and ambush and shot Deputy Slayton with a handgun at close range five times, once in the chest and four times in the back. The suspect was arrested the next day. On July 22, 1978, the man, 23, was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to life. Deputy Slayton had served with the agency for 25 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three children, and eight grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-29F29900- 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
25 years. You could have gone home.
Deputy Sheriff Slayton gave the Giles County Sheriff's Department 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Pulaski community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Slayton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Herbert H. Slayton 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Herbert H. Slayton's cause is highlighted.
How Herbert H. Slayton Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Herbert H. Slayton is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Herbert H. Slayton was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.