Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Loftis was shot and killed while he and another deputy attempted to serve a warrant. They were attempting to locate the wanted man and went to a nearby home to ask where the man lived. When Deputy Loftis knocked on the door and announced himself the resident inside fired a 12 gauge shotgun through the door, striking Deputy Loftis. Deputy Loftis was taken to a nearby hospital where he died four days later. The suspect turned himself in the next day and was charged with murder. The suspect said he thought it was someone else at the door who had threatened him earlier. A jury found him not guilty of murder.
Survivors
Deputy Loftis had been with the agency for 2 years and was survived by his wife, four children, mother and six siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-933813A4- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Loftis gave the Putnam County Sheriff's Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cookeville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Loftis.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Milton Otis Loftis is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 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 64.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Putnam County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Milton Otis Loftis's cause is highlighted.
How Milton Otis Loftis Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Milton Otis Loftis is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Milton Otis Loftis was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Putnam County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
