Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff John Burnett was shot and killed in a gunfight on the Knoxville and Ohio passenger train.
The train had reached a point just east of Newcomb when the conductor alerted the sheriff and his deputy that four desperadoes were robbing passengers in an adjoining car. Gunfire erupted as he and his deputy intervened. When the smoke cleared Sheriff Burnett lay dead on the floor, his deputy was seriously wounded, one suspect was mortally wounded, and another was slightly wounded and captured. The other two suspects jumped from the train and escaped.
The captured suspect was placed in the Campbell County Jail in Jacksboro. That night a mob seized him fron the jailor and hanged him from an old-fashioned gate-beam a short distance east of the town limits.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-A422986C- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
133 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Burnett served with the Campbell County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Jacksboro community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff John Burnett 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 Campbell County Sheriff's Office, 10 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Burnett's cause is highlighted.
How John Burnett Compares
Offender Outcome
One shot and killed; One lynched
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Burnett is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Burnett was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Campbell County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
