Barton Coker

Maryville Police Department — Maryville, TN

Felonious

End of Watch January 2, 1938

Age 66

The Vigil Panel 74 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Police Officer Barton Coker was shot and killed after he and his partner stopped a 21-year-old man and his 18-year-old girlfriend as they exited a lumber yard on McGee Street shortly after midnight. When the officers approached, the man drew a handgun and opened fire, killing Officer Coker. Both subjects were apprehended. The man was sentenced to death his sentence was later commuted to 99 years. He was released in December 1950 after Governor Gordon Browning reduced his sentence to 12 years. His girlfriend was sentenced to 21 years but was released after serving only a few months.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-TN-7E6E6744
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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.
Police Officer Coker served with the Maryville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Maryville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Coker.

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

Agency

Department Maryville Police Department

Location Maryville, TN

Platform Identity mpd.blount.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 2, 1938

Age 66

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Released in 1950

Police Officer Barton Coker 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 Maryville Police Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Maryville Police Department

of 4 officers

100% Felonious

TN — Statewide

498

of 769 officers

64.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious