Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Chief Paul Cruze was shot and killed after he and another officer stopped a suspected drunk driver on Creek Street.
The subject had previously been arrested for drunk driving by Chief Cruze and was armed with a pistol during that arrest. Following the arrest the man had threatened to get revenge against the chief.
The other officer informed the man that they knew he was armed and told him to surrender his handgun. Instead of doing so, the man produced a handgun and shot Chief Cruze, killing him instantly. The second officer returned fire, wounding the man. The was located approximately one mile away and taken into custody. He was charged with Chief Cruze's murder. He claimed self defense and was acquitted.
Chief Cruze was a WWI veteran and had served with the Lake City Police Department for 10 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three foster sons, two brothers, and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-E53C51F6- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Chief Cruze gave the Lake City Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Rocky Top community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Julius Paul Cruze served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Chief Julius Paul Cruze 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. Julius Paul Cruze's cause is highlighted.
How Julius Paul Cruze Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Julius Paul Cruze is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.