I, like many others here in Bradley County, pray for the safety and well-being of our deputies every single day. No one understands the volatile, uncertain nature of law enforcement better than law enforcement personnel themselves. In public service, what may seem to be a routine task can turn deadly in a heartbeat. A simple traffic stop, a warrant to be served, a court proceeding ~ a law enforcement officer never knows when the unexpected will intrude upon the situation, turning the mundane into the virulent.

This deadly X-factor ~ the specter of sudden violence ~ is simply a part of every public safety officer’s daily routine. And while every precaution is taken, there are just no guarantees that a lethal and tragic situation won’t develop at a moment’s notice. Invariably, when that happens ~ when a deputy or police officer falls in the line of duty ~ it never fails to leave an overwhelming sense of grief and loss in its wake that goes beyond words.

My heart goes out to the family, friends and colleagues of Grundy County Sheriff’s Deputy Shane Tate who was gunned down on June 5th while attempting to serve a warrant in Tracy City for probation violation. The suspect later turned the gun on himself. Two lives gone, two families destroyed. A senseless and absolutely tragic waste.

The death of 29-year-old  Deputy Tate was particularly heartbreaking because he left a young wife and five young children behind. He had been with the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office for three years and a patrol deputy for less than one. He had only just graduated from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy two weeks before his death. Academy Director Brian Grisham described him as “a good young man, dedicated to his family.” He said Deputy Tate never failed to spend time with each of his children every night before he went to bed. In fact, every person in the Grundy community seems stunned and grief-stricken at the loss of this good young man.

During the course of our 172-year history here in Bradley County, we have taken casualties as well.  Sheriff Israel Smith was killed in 1922 while breaking up an illegal whiskey-making operation ; Dep. Taylor Caywood was killed in1932 while transporting a dangerous criminal from out of state; Dep. Kenneth Wright was killed in 1971 while serving a warrant; Cleveland City Police Officer Bud Cash was killed in 1955 while running emergency traffic; and Reserve Dep. Al McCollum died in 1989 during a rescue attempt.