Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief John Ferriss was shot and killed by a suspect he had arrested several months earlier. Chief Ferriss was eating dinner at a local motel restaurant, in uniform, when the suspect approached him, grabbed his service weapon, and shot him five times. The suspect fled the scene and was apprehended by deputies a short time later. The wife of the 32-year-old suspect said during a 15 hour period before he shot Chief Ferriss, he drank two quarts of whiskey and 23 bottles of beer. The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to 21 years. He was paroled on September 6, 1961. At the time of Chief Ferriss' murder, Goodlettsville was an unincorporated town. Chief Ferriss had been deputized by the sheriff of Davidson County to serve as the town's police chief.
Survivors
survivor. At the time of Daddy's death, I was four years old, yet have some very vivid memories of some of our times together. As I am now 67 years old, I guess I think of him more often in hopes that our meeting together will be closer in death. He was a brave, kind and loving person who gave his life for the place he served, Goodlettsville, TN. I love you Daddy and think of you often.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-C340AF99- 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.
Chief of Police Ferriss gave the Goodlettsville Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Goodlettsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Ferriss.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police John Holmes Ferriss 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 Goodlettsville Police Department, 2 of 2 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 Holmes Ferriss's cause is highlighted.
How John Holmes Ferriss Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 1961
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Holmes Ferriss is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Holmes Ferriss was killed by officer's handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Goodlettsville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
