Incident
Trooper Douglas Tripp was shot multiple times and killed while he sat in his patrol car. The man shot Trooper Tripp ten times in the head and neck. The suspect charged with shooting Trooper Tripp told authorities that he shot the officer because he didn't deserve a speeding ticket. The suspect was convicted of second degree murder. He was released from prison in 2008. Trooper Tripp had served with the Tennessee Highway Patrol for 20 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
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
20 years. You could have gone home.
Trooper Tripp gave the Tennessee Highway Patrol 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the people of Tennessee. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Tripp.
— 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.
Douglas is one of 498 officers killed feloniously in TN, 64.8% of the 769 remembered there.
Douglas is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Douglas is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1991, 1 officer at Tennessee Highway Patrol was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1991, 3 officers in TN were killed feloniously, the 54th heaviest of 147 years on record. The heaviest was 1931, with 12.
In 1991, 85 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 76th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1991, 98 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 65th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Douglas was 42. 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. Douglas had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 18 years.
Douglas was 42. Of the 449 killed feloniously in TN whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 50; the middle age was 41. Douglas had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Douglas was 42. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Douglas had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Douglas was 42. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Douglas had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 16.7% of these deaths at Tennessee Highway Patrol; January holds the most, 33.3%. Sundays: 16.7%.
May holds 7.4% of these deaths in TN; December holds the most, 10.2%. Sundays: 15.5%.
May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
May holds 8.5% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 14.6% of all 41 deaths at Tennessee Highway Patrol, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, 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 rifle, in 4% 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 rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.3% of these deaths.
His people
Tennessee Highway Patrol has 41 officers remembered here, Douglas 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 32-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.















