Giles County Sheriff's Department, Tennessee
End of Watch: Tuesday, January 24, 1978
Age: 65
Tour of Duty: 25 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 24, 1978
Weapon Used: Handgun; .38 caliber
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Deputy Herbert Slayton was shot and killed while checking on a vehicle. The suspect, who was an AWOL soldier from the US Army, had set up and ambush and shot Deputy Slayton with a handgun at close range five times, once in the chest and four times in the back. The suspect was arrested the next day.
On July 22, 1978, the man, 23, was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to life.
Deputy Slayton had served with the agency for 25 years. He was survived by his wife, three children, and eight grandchildren.