Douglas Wayne Tripp
Agency patch
Trooper

Douglas Wayne Tripp

Tennessee Highway Patrol — Nashville, TN
Felonious
End of Watch May 19, 1991
Age 42
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Badge 5591
The Vigil Panel 137 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Trooper Douglas Tripp was shot multiple times and killed while he sat in his patrol car. The man shot Trooper Tripp ten times in the head and neck. The suspect charged with shooting Trooper Tripp told authorities that he shot the officer because he didn't deserve a speeding ticket. The suspect was convicted of second degree murder. He was released from prison in 2008. Trooper Tripp had served with the Tennessee Highway Patrol for 20 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-6FBD249D
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

20 years. You could have gone home.
Trooper Tripp gave the Tennessee Highway Patrol 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the people of Tennessee. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Tripp.

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

Agency

Location Nashville, TN
Platform Identity thp.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 19, 1991
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Age 42
Badge Number 5591
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle; .22 caliber
Offender Convicted of murder

Trooper Douglas Wayne Tripp 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 Tennessee Highway Patrol, 6 of 41 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 14.6% of this agency's fallen.

Tennessee Highway Patrol
6
of 41 officers
14.6% 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. Douglas Wayne Tripp'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 Douglas Wayne Tripp Compares

Age at End of Watch
42
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
20
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Convicted of murder

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Douglas Wayne Tripp is highlighted in May.

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. Douglas Wayne Tripp was killed by rifle; .22 caliber.

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

Incident Location