Polk County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee
End of Watch: Thursday, June 14, 1928
Age: 55
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: June 14, 1928
Weapon Used: Handgun; .45 caliber
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 20 years
Deputy John Gilbert was shot and killed while investigating a suspicious vehicle parked along the road on Little Sand Mountain. The car was parked in a location used by the local power company's payroll truck and had caught the attention of power company workers. The workers notified Deputy Gilbert, who lived nearby, and asked him to investigate the vehicle.
Deputy Gilbert deputized a neighbor and went to investigate. They reached the car as a man came out of the woods carrying a large sack. When Deputy Gilbert asked the man to surrender the man put the sack in the vehicle and immediately opened fire with a .45 caliber pistol, striking Deputy Gilbert. Despite being mortally wounded, Deputy Gilbert was able to return fire with his shotgun and struck the suspect once in the side.
The 26-year-old suspect fled the scene in his vehicle but became too weak to drive after a short distance. He was picked up by two passerby and taken to his home, and then to a local hospital, where he was charged with Deputy Gilbert's murder. His first trial ended with a hung jury. His second trial which was to begin on March 20, 1929, was postponed. When the suspect left home that morning to go to court an unknown gunman shot him in the back of his leg from ambush. On April 3, 1929, the suspect was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison.
Deputy Gilbert had served with the agency for several terms. He was survived by his wife, four daughters, and son.