Richard L. Rose
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Richard L. Rose

Tipton County Sheriff's Office — Covington, TN
Felonious
End of Watch November 29, 1988
Age 22
The Vigil Panel 134 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Rose was shot and killed by his partner while on duty. His partner and the sheriff at the time were under a federal investigation involving the agency's training practices.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-9C091F4C
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.
Deputy Sheriff Rose served with the Tipton County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Covington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Rose.

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

Agency

Location Covington, TN
Platform Identity tcso.tipton.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 29, 1988
Age 22
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun
Offender Guilty of criminally negligent homicide

Deputy Sheriff Richard L. Rose 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 Tipton County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.

Tipton County Sheriff's Office
4
of 5 officers
80% 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. Richard L. Rose'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 Richard L. Rose Compares

Age at End of Watch
22
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Guilty of criminally negligent homicide

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard L. Rose is highlighted in Nov.

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. Richard L. Rose was killed by officer's handgun.

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