Fallen Officers

Deputy Sheriff John Heithcock was shot and killed while assisting the Fairview police chief following a vehicle pursuit.
The chief had attempted to stop the vehicle for speeding. The driver initially stopped but pointed a gun at the chief and ordered him back into his car before fleeing. The pursuit lasted approximately five miles until the man pulled into his own driveway in the Ben Aqua community on Route 100 at the county line with Hickman County. The man began shooting at the Fairview officers.
As Deputy Heithcock arrived at the scene the suspect opened fire from a ditch and shot him in the chest with a shotgun.
The subject was convicted of Deputy Heithcock's murder but was released from prison after 11 years.
Deputy Heithcock had served with the Williamson County Sheriff's Office for only two months. He was survived by his wife and four children.
‍More information coming soon!

EOW Friday, January 28, 1944
Constable Reed was shot and killed after making a traffic stop of a reckless driver on Franklin Road. During the stop he was attacked by the two brothers who were in the car. One of the men was able to gain control of Constable Reed's .38 caliber service revolver and shot him in the back. The two fled but were apprehended a short time later.
Both brothers were convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison February 25, 1944.Constable Reed had been with the agency for 20 years.
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EOW Thursday, June 18, 2020
Police Officer Destin Legieza was killed in a vehicle crash on Franklin Road between Murray Lane to Concord Road shortly before 6:00 am.
A drunk driver traveling in the opposite direction crossed the center line and struck Officer Legieza's patrol SUV head-on. The other driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
The driver was charged with vehicular homicide by intoxication. She was convicted of vehicular homicide by intoxication, vehicular homicide by reckless conduct, and reckless aggravated assault resulting in death and sentenced to eight years. She was denied parole in 2024. Her next parole date will be 2027.
Officer Legieza had served with the Brentwood Police Department for five years and previously served with the Athens Police Department (Georgia) for two years. He was a third-generation law enforcement officer. He is survived by his wife, mother, father, and brother.
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EOW Saturday, March 26, 2022
Police Officer II Jeff Carson suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after moving a heavy couch from the travel lanes of I-65 near Cool Springs Mall.
Prior to moving the couch, he had responded to a crash involving a vehicle that went off-road at high speed and drove into an area of rugged terrain. The vehicle was unoccupied when it was located and he checked the area on foot for victims of the crash.
He returned home following his shift and collapsed a short time later.
Officer Carson had served with the Franklin Police Department for 14 years. He is survived by his wife and son.
Officer Carson was a well-known country music singer who had performed at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and toured the United States.
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EOW Sunday, February 7, 2010
Corporal Jeremy McLaren succumbed to injuries sustained in an automobile accident in Columbia two days earlier.
He was returning to Spring Hill from the Maury County Jail at approximately 6:30 pm when the driver of a pickup truck ran a red light and struck his patrol car.
Corporal McLaren had served with the Spring Hill Police Department for three years. He is survived by his parents and four siblings.
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EOW Friday, June 27, 1919
Sheriff Milton Stephens was shot and killed by two horse thieves he had arrested and who he was taking to jail. The two had been arrested in Nolensville and were held there until the arrival of Sheriff Stephens.
The sheriff and the two youths left Nolensville to return to the jail in Franklin but never arrived. Sheriff Stephens was found on the Wilson Pike the next morning suffering from gunshot wounds. It is believed that the suspects disarmed Sheriff Stephens of his pistol and rifle and shot him. They then stole the weapons and buggy.
Both suspects were apprehended five days later. On March 18, 1920, one was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to two to 10 years. The other suspect was acquitted.
Sheriff Stephens had been elected to the position the previous year. He was survived by seven children. He was preceded in death by his wife.
More information coming soon!

Samuel Claybrooks Locke (1877-1925)
Federal Revenue Prohibition Officer
‍On Saturday, March 7, 1925, at approximately 11:30 PM, Federal Revenue Prohibition Officer Samuel Claybrooks Locke—identified by some sources as affiliated with the Williamson County Constable’s Office, Tennessee (Marsteller, 2020)—was fatally shot at close range in the driveway of his home on Hillsboro Road in Williamson County. About three months earlier, Locke had resigned from the Franklin police force (Unknown, 1925). Other reports suggest he left his role as deputy under Sheriff W.W. Crockett due to a lack of support for his enforcement efforts.
Although it remains unclear who Locke worked for before becoming a Federal Revenue Prohibition Officer, he was well-regarded for his integrity and dedication. In the three months preceding his death, Locke played a role in dismantling 73 illegal stills. Following his murder, the "Flying Squadron," a federal prohibition field unit, investigated his death, leading to over 30 arrests (Marsteller, 2020).
‍"He was honest in his effort to uphold the laws of the government and to help make Williamson County a better county. He was unobtrusive, quietly performing his great task."
(Unknown, Officer Shot Down From Ambush, 1925)‍
‍Sources:
‍Unknown. (1925, March 12). Officer shot down from ambush. Review Appeal.
Marsteller, D. & T. (2020, March 9). Samuel Claybrook Locke. Historical Marker. Link
‍Unknown. (2024, October 16). Constable Samuel Claybrooks Locke. The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP). Link