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Deputy Sheriff Ken Wright, Sr. | Bradley County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee
Bradley County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee

Deputy Sheriff

Ken Wright, Sr.

Bradley County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee

End of Watch: Sunday, August 22, 1971

Biographical Info

Age: 54
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: August 22, 1971
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Convicted of murder

Deputy Sheriff Ken Wright was shot and killed while attempting to make an arrest.

Deputy Wright was backing up a Cleveland, Tennessee, police officer who was attempting to arrest a suspect on Broomfield Road. The suspect pulled a gun and started shooting. Deputy Wright was able to push the Cleveland police officer out of the line of fire but was shot and killed.

On March 21, 1972, the suspect was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 10 to 15 years. In 1975 his sentence was commuted to just 10 years and he was released a few months later. In 2004 was arrested on federal narcotics and firearms charges. He was convicted of those charges and returned to prison.

Deputy Wright was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII. He was survived by his wife.