Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Louis Hutchison was shot and killed at the Clinch River Bridge while pursuing three bank robbers.
The three men had robbed a bank about one hour earlier and had been involved in a shootout with a bystander. Sheriff Hutchison and a special deputy had been alerted to the incident and headed toward the bridge to set up a roadblock.
As they crossed the bridge they passed the suspects driving in the opposite direction. The deputy turned around and began to follow the suspects, who suddenly stopped on the bridge. As Sheriff Hutchison and the deputy approached the suspects opened fire, killing the sheriff.
The suspects fled the scene and were the subjects of a large manhunt. Later in the evening they shot and wounded a posse member who was tracking them with bloodhounds. The shooter was eventually captured and executed on April 8, 1937.
Sheriff Hutchison was serving his third term as sheriff.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-C1F15C7F- 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.
Sheriff Hutchison served with the Union County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Maynardville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Hutchison.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Louis B. Hutchison 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 Union County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 3 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. Louis B. Hutchison's cause is highlighted.
How Louis B. Hutchison Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Louis B. Hutchison is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Louis B. Hutchison was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Union County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
