Roll of Honor
Incident
Special Deputy Sheriff Hugh Rievley was stabbed to death while attempting to arrest a drunk man who was acting disorderly at a large picnic at Cave Springs.
The subject was among a group of men who had been drinking and acting disorderly at the picnic. Deputy Rievley had made several attempts to have the men quiet down without arresting them, but one of the subjects began to fight with another. As Deputy Rievley stepped between the two men, one of them stabbed him several times in the chest and neck with a pocket knife.
Deputy Rievley was placed on the excursion train but bled to death before reaching the hospital in Chattanooga. The man who stabbed him and one of the man's friends were arrested and charged with Deputy Rievley's murder.
Deputy Rievley was survived by his wife and three children. His teenage son was at the picnic and witnessed the incident.
Survivors
Deputy Rievley was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-B412DFB7- 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.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Deputy Sheriff Rievley served with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Chattanooga community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Deputy Sheriff Rievley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Deputy Sheriff Hugh Rievley 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 Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, 12 of 16 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Hugh Rievley's cause is highlighted.
How Hugh Rievley Compares
Offender Outcome
Charged with murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Hugh Rievley is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Hugh Rievley was killed by edged weapon; knife.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
15 officers from Hamilton County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
