Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Herman Rollins succumbed to a gunshot wound after responding to a disturbance at a cafe at 323 1-2 Walnut Street at 11:30 pm. When Officer Rollins arrived, the armed owner ordered him to leave. When he returned with backup officers to arrest the owner, a female waitress shot him in the back. He was transported to General Hospital, where he passed away from the wound to his spinal cord. The 19-year-old waitress and the owner, a convicted felon, were charged with murder. The waitress pleaded temporary insanity and was acquitted. Officer Rollins had served with the Knoxville Police Department for over two years and previously served as a constable. It was his first day back on patrol after serving in the Traffic Division.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two children, his mother, two brothers, and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-E4B727F9- 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.
Patrol Officer Rollins gave the Knoxville Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Knoxville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrol Officer Rollins.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrol Officer Herman M. "Curley" Rollins 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 Knoxville Police Department, 12 of 17 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Herman M. "Curley" Rollins's cause is highlighted.
How Herman M. "Curley" Rollins Compares
Offender Outcome
Not guilty by reason of insanity
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Herman M. "Curley" Rollins is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Herman M. "Curley" Rollins was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
16 officers from Knoxville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
