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Incident
Deputy Sheriff Derrick Whittle succumbed to injuries sustained three days earlier in an automobile crash at approximately 3:30 pm.
He was responding to a domestic disturbance involving weapons when his patrol car left the roadway and struck a tree near the intersection of Mt. Pleasant Church Road and Bowers Circle. He was transported to a local hospital before being flown to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he remained until succumbing to his injuries.
Deputy Whittle had served with the Union County Sheriff's Office for less than one year.
Survivors
Survivors include his wife, two children, and parents.
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.
Deputy Sheriff Whittle gave the Union County Sheriff's Office 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Blairsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Whittle.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Derrick is the only officer of Union County Sheriff's Office remembered here.
Derrick is one of 264 officers lost to accidents in GA, 29.2% of the 905 remembered there.
Derrick is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Derrick 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 2011, 6 officers in GA were lost to accidents, the 3rd heaviest of 98 years on record. The heaviest was 1968, with 8.
In 2011, 64 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 66th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2011, 72 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 73rd heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Derrick was 38. Of the 251 lost to accidents in GA whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 47; the middle age was 36. Derrick had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Derrick was 38. 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. Derrick had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Derrick was 38. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Derrick had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
September holds 7.2% of these deaths in GA; December holds the most, 12.5%. Sundays: 12.9%.
September holds 9.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Sundays: 14%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 100% of all 1 deaths at Union County Sheriff's Office.
Accident deaths account for 29.2% of all 905 deaths in GA, 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.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 58-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Union County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.