Roll of Honor
Richard "Dick" Burrus
Incident
Special Deputy Sheriff Dick Burrus was shot and killed as he and a deputy attempted to question three brothers who were creating a disturbance at a church service in Owl City.
Several churchgoers had informed the other deputy about the disturbance. The deputy deputized Dick Burrus to assist him in arresting the three.
As the deputies walked the men out of the church one of the men suddenly drew a handgun and shot both of them. Special Deputy Burrus succumbed to his wounds the following day.
All three brothers were arrested and held in jail at Tiptonville. After Deputy Burrus' death the suspects were removed from the jail by a mob, returned to Owl City, and lynched inside of the church where they had shot the deputies.
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BO-US-TN-E00AA50E- Stewardship
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- 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 Burrus served with the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Tiptonville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Deputy Sheriff Burrus.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Deputy Sheriff Richard "Dick" Burrus 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard "Dick" Burrus's cause is highlighted.
How Richard "Dick" Burrus Compares
Offender Outcome
Lynched by mob
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard "Dick" Burrus is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard "Dick" Burrus was killed by handgun.