Roll of Honor

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Deputy Sheriff

Horace Hanley Heath

Lincoln County Sheriff's Office — Fayetteville, TN

Felonious

End of Watch December 19, 1920

Age 41

The Vigil Panel 40 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Horace Heath was shot and killed near Flintville, Tennessee, while he and a county constable raided a still.

The two officers had discovered the still and hid nearby to observe the suspects operating it. They were discovered when the operators left the still to get more firewood. A shootout ensued in which Deputy Heath was shot six times. The constable and onee of the suspects were also wounded. The wounded suspect and one other man were arrested.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TN-D9CA3202
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 Heath served with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Fayetteville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Heath.

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

Agency

Department Lincoln County Sheriff's Office

Location Fayetteville, TN

Platform Identity lcso.lincoln.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 19, 1920

Age 41

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Shot and wounded

Deputy Sheriff Horace Hanley Heath 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%.

Lincoln County Sheriff's Office

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

TN — Statewide

498

of 769 officers

64.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Horace Hanley Heath's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Horace Hanley Heath Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and wounded

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Horace Hanley Heath is highlighted in Dec.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Horace Hanley Heath was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518