Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Conlin died of wounds he received the previous day when he was shot by an Army deserter he was attempting to arrest.
The AWOL soldier had stolen a car at gunpoint. He was located by Sheriff Conlin and the Military Police. Sheriff Conlin persuaded the Military Police to stand aside and let him handle the situation since he knew the soldier. As Sheriff Conlin approached the soldier, the man opened fire and shot Sheriff Conlin in the heart. The Military Police returned fire and killed the suspect. Sheriff Conlin was rushed to the hospital, where he died the following day.
Sheriff Conlin had served with the Warren County Sheriff's Department for three years.
The AWOL soldier had stolen a car at gunpoint. He was located by Sheriff Conlin and the Military Police. Sheriff Conlin persuaded the Military Police to stand aside and let him handle the situation since he knew the soldier. As Sheriff Conlin approached the soldier, the man opened fire and shot Sheriff Conlin in the heart. The Military Police returned fire and killed the suspect. Sheriff Conlin was rushed to the hospital, where he died the following day.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and child.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-TN-70AB7C3C- Stewardship
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- 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.
Sheriff Conlin gave the Warren County Sheriff's Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the McMinnville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Conlin.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Charles Walter Conlin, Jr. 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. Charles Walter Conlin, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Charles Walter Conlin, Jr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Walter Conlin, Jr. is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles Walter Conlin, Jr. was killed by handgun.