Dennis Ray Armes
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Dennis Ray Armes

Felonious
End of Watch March 15, 1983
Age 28
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Badge 7
The Vigil Panel 126 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Dennis Armes was shot and killed after stopping a vehicle on Highway 58 approximately six miles south of Kingston, Tennessee. The subjet shot at him three times and struck him once. Deputy Armes was able to return fire, but his gun jammed after several shots. Deputy Armes, who was not wearing a vest at the time, was struck in the chest and killed. The suspect was sentenced to life in prison. He was denied parole in 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016. He subsequently died in prison in May 2020. Deputy Armes had served with the Roane County Sheriff's Office for two years.

Survivors

He was survived by his daughter, son, parents, two brothers, and sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-2B21B9BE
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.
Deputy Sheriff Armes gave the Roane County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Kingston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Armes.

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

Agency

Location Kingston, TN
Platform Identity rcso.roane.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 15, 1983
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 28
Badge Number 7
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun; .357 caliber
Offender Died in prison

Deputy Sheriff Dennis Ray Armes 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 Roane County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Roane County Sheriff's Office
4
of 4 officers
100% Felonious
TN — Statewide
498
of 769 officers
64.8% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Dennis Ray Armes's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Dennis Ray Armes Compares

Age at End of Watch
28
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Died in prison

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Dennis Ray Armes is highlighted in Mar.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Dennis Ray Armes was killed by handgun; .357 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location