John A. Gilbert

Polk County Sheriff's Office — Benton, TN

Felonious

End of Watch June 14, 1928

Age 55

The Vigil Panel 55 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Deputy John Gilbert was shot and killed while investigating a suspicious vehicle parked along the road on Little Sand Mountain. The car was parked in a location used by the local power company's payroll truck and had caught the attention of power company workers. The workers notified Deputy Gilbert, who lived nearby, and asked him to investigate the vehicle.

Deputy Gilbert deputized a neighbor and went to investigate. They reached the car as a man came out of the woods carrying a large sack. When Deputy Gilbert asked the man to surrender the man put the sack in the vehicle and immediately opened fire with a .45 caliber pistol, striking Deputy Gilbert. Despite being mortally wounded, Deputy Gilbert was able to return fire with his shotgun and struck the suspect once in the side.

The 26-year-old suspect fled the scene in his vehicle but became too weak to drive after a short distance. He was picked up by two passerby and taken to his home, and then to a local hospital, where he was charged with Deputy Gilbert's murder. His first trial ended with a hung jury. His second trial which was to begin on March 20, 1929, was postponed. When the suspect left home that morning to go to court an unknown gunman shot him in the back of his leg from ambush. On April 3, 1929, the suspect was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison.

Deputy Gilbert had served with the agency for several terms.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, four daughters, and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TN-B8056038
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.
Deputy Sheriff Gilbert served with the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Benton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Gilbert.

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

Agency

Department Polk County Sheriff's Office

Location Benton, TN

Platform Identity pcso.polk.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 14, 1928

Age 55

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun; .45 caliber

Offender Sentenced to 20 years

Deputy Sheriff John A. Gilbert 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 Polk County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Polk County Sheriff's Office

of 5 officers

100% Felonious

TN — Statewide

498

of 769 officers

64.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious