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Incident
Police Officer Candace Ripp was struck and killed by a vehicle while investigating the scene of a one-car accident on Ellington Parkway, near Spring Street, at approximately 8:00 am.
She was standing in the grass median of the roadway drawing diagrams of the accident scene, when another driver lost control in the same spot and struck her. She was transported to a local hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. Officer Ripp's report of the first accident stated that it was raining hard at the time. No charges were filed against the driver who struck her because of the weather conditions.
Officer Ripp had served with the Nashville Police Department for almost ten years.
Survivors
She is survived by her daughter, grand-daughter, and mother.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Ripp gave the Metro Nashville Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Nashville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Ripp.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Metro Nashville Police Department has lost 20 officers; 7 of them lost to accidents.
Candace is one of 191 officers lost to accidents in TN, 24.8% of the 769 remembered there.
Candace is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Candace is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2001, 1 officer at Metro Nashville Police Department was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 2001, 4 officers in TN were lost to accidents, the 4th heaviest of 99 years on record. The heaviest was 2000, with 6.
In 2001, 77 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 31st heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2001, 89 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 39th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Candace was 36. Of the 7 lost to accidents at Metro Nashville Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 30.5 and 37.5; the middle age was 35. Candace had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Candace was 36. Of the 183 lost to accidents in TN whose age is recorded, half were between 30.5 and 49; the middle age was 38. Candace had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Candace was 36. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Candace had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Candace was 36. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Candace had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
December holds 14.3% of these deaths at Metro Nashville Police Department; May holds the most, 42.9%. Saturdays: 42.9%.
December holds 7.3% of these deaths in TN; September holds the most, 11.5%. Saturdays: 16.8%.
December holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Saturdays: 14.9%.
December holds 8.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Saturdays: 14.7%.
How
Accident deaths account for 35% of all 20 deaths at Metro Nashville Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 24.8% of all 769 deaths in TN, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
Her people
Metro Nashville Police Department has 20 officers remembered here, Candace among them.
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Lonnie L. Harper
Aug 10, 1963
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Charles Reuben Byrd
Sep 26, 1963
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Carroll Gordon Bargatze
Oct 16, 1965
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Thomas E. Johnson
Jan 16, 1968
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Charles W. Thomasson
Mar 17, 1968
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Robert L. Williams
May 2, 1968
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Raymond Leroy Wheeler
Nov 6, 1973
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Curtis Jordan
Jan 13, 1976
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George Howard Hall
Feb 23, 1976
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Steven Ross Pinkelton
Jul 26, 1978
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Edward L. Tarkington
Dec 17, 1978
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John Wesley Smith, III
May 14, 1980
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William Lee Bowlin
Aug 4, 1982
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James Ronnie Woodard, Sr.
Oct 9, 1991
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Francis Paul Scurry
May 17, 1996
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Candace Renee Ripp
Dec 8, 2001
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Christy Jo Dedman
Jul 19, 2004
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Michael Alexander Petrina
May 10, 2014
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Eric Wayne Mumaw
Feb 2, 2017
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John Ralph Anderson, IV
Jul 4, 2019
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 18-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
19 officers from Metro Nashville Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
