Incident
Trooper Calvin Jenks was shot and killed while conducting a traffic stop near the intersection of Highways 14 and 54 in Tipton County.
During the stop, Trooper Jenks smelled marijuana from the vehicle and was told by the driver that there were drugs in the center console. When he asked the passenger if he had any drugs, the man produced a handgun and opened fire, striking Trooper Jenks once in the head and once in the body.
Both men fled the scene but were arrested 13 hours later in Nashville, approximately 200 miles from where the shooting occurred. In December 2007, one suspect was found guilty of the facilitation of first degree murder and was subsequently sentenced to life in prison. The second shooter also received a life sentence in June 2008.
Trooper Jenks' body was found next to his patrol car by two hunters who were in the area. His patrol car's video camera recorded the entire incident.
Trooper Jenks had served with the Tennessee Highway Patrol for almost 3 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, parents, four brothers, a sister, grandparents and a large extended family.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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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.
Trooper Jenks gave the Tennessee Highway Patrol 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Tennessee. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Jenks.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Tennessee Highway Patrol has lost 41 officers; 6 of them killed feloniously.
Calvin is one of 498 officers killed feloniously in TN, 64.8% of the 769 remembered there.
Calvin is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Calvin is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2007, 1 officer at Tennessee Highway Patrol was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 2007, 1 officer in TN was killed feloniously, the 104th heaviest of 147 years on record. The heaviest was 1931, with 12.
In 2007, 84 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 77th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 2007, 89 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 76th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Calvin was 24. Of the 6 killed feloniously at Tennessee Highway Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 34.5 and 41.5; the middle age was 39.5. Calvin had served 2.7 years; the middle length of service was 18 years.
Calvin was 24. Of the 449 killed feloniously in TN whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 50; the middle age was 41. Calvin had served 2.7 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Calvin was 24. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Calvin had served 2.7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Calvin was 24. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Calvin had served 2.7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
January holds 33.3% of these deaths at Tennessee Highway Patrol, more than any other month. Saturdays: 16.7%.
January holds 9.6% of these deaths in TN; December holds the most, 10.2%. Saturdays: 17.1%.
January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.
January holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 14.6% of all 41 deaths at Tennessee Highway Patrol, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; .25 caliber, in 16.7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 64.8% of all 769 deaths in TN, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; .25 caliber, in 0.2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; .25 caliber, in 0.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; .25 caliber, in 0.1% of these deaths.
His people
Tennessee Highway Patrol has 41 officers remembered here, Calvin among them.
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Charles Monroe Hash
Apr 11, 1930
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Walter Ray Jones Jul 31, 1933
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Lee Glenn Loveless Feb 3, 1934
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Clovis Lee Cole May 2, 1934
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Edward Eugene Kennedy
Aug 22, 1934
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Lindsey Blake Smith
Dec 17, 1934
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Landon Earl Hicks Jun 17, 1936
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Paul Summers
Aug 8, 1936
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Carl Douglas Hickman
Sep 15, 1937
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Lewis R. Boone
Oct 18, 1938
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Charles Joseph Gearhiser Nov 12, 1938
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William Howard James
Sep 14, 1942
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William Hinkle Crutcher Aug 3, 1944
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Fred Cole Waldrop
Mar 9, 1950
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Oliver Deward Williamson
Mar 21, 1952
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Oscar Newton Morris
Apr 19, 1956
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Lewis Raymond Hendon Jun 15, 1957
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Edward Clay Jowers Jul 18, 1962
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Joseph Emanuel Dillard
Aug 24, 1964
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William Gordon Barnes Jan 7, 1966
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Michael Theodore Dafferner Apr 6, 1966
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Samual W. Gibbs
Aug 11, 1966
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Eugene Brakebill
Oct 9, 1966
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Roy Alford Mynatt
Feb 11, 1968
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C. B. Martin
May 4, 1969
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Paul Lynn Mooneyham, Sr.
Apr 4, 1981
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Samuel Freeman Holcomb, Jr.
Mar 27, 1988
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Douglas Wayne Tripp
May 19, 1991
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George Van Dorse Holcomb
Jan 26, 1992
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James David Perry
Oct 3, 1999
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Bobby J. Maples
Nov 5, 1999
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Lynn McCarthy Ross
Jul 26, 2000
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John Gregory Mann
Jan 1, 2001
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John Robert Davis
Mar 17, 2001
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Todd Michael Larkins
Jul 8, 2005
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Calvin Wayne Jenks
Jan 6, 2007
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Andrew Thomas Wall
May 7, 2011
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Michael Wayne Slagle
Jan 25, 2013
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Matthew Elias Gatti
May 6, 2019
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Vince Arnold Mullins
Jan 28, 2022
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Harold Lee Russell, II
Aug 23, 2022
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 3-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
40 officers from Tennessee Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.















