Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Keith Bellar succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous day when he stopped to help at what he believed to be a car accident in Dickson.
A Dickson 911 dispatcher had just completed her shift when her estranged husband began following her. As the vehicles traveled on West Walnut Street the husband ran the wife off the road near McKenzie Street. Deputy Bellar witnessed the crash but was not aware it involved a domestic dispute.
When he stopped at the scene the husband immediately opened fire on him, striking him in the head before he was able to exit his patrol car. The man then committed suicide.
Deputy Bellar was flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he succumbed to his wound the next day.
Deputy Bellar had served with the Dickson County Sheriff's Office for six years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and 6-month-old son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-56E04984- 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 Bellar gave the Dickson County Sheriff's Office 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Charlotte community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Bellar.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Richard Keith Bellar 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 Dickson County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard Keith Bellar's cause is highlighted.
How Richard Keith Bellar Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Keith Bellar is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard Keith Bellar was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Dickson County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
