Union County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee
End of Watch: Monday, August 1, 1960
Age: 54
Tour of Duty: 20 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: August 1, 1960
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Deputy Sheriff Ben DeVault was shot and killed while pursuing a murder suspect along Highway 61 with other county and federal officers.
Deputy DeVault and his brother, a county constable, were the lead car in the pursuit that started on Highway 61 near Big Ridge State Park. They chased the subject into Anderson County when the driver intentionally forced them off the road three miles from the Norris Freeway by stopping his car suddenly. As their vehicle passed, the suspect opened fire, striking Deputy DeVault in the head.
Two civilians who were assisting with the search of the two suspects following the shooting were also shot when they were mistaken for the wanted men. One of the civilians later died.
Three weeks earlier, the suspect had escaped from the Knox County Jail where he was serving a sentence for drunk driving. The next day he and another escapee robbed and killed a merchant in Andersonville. After he killed Deputy DeVault he went into hiding in the nearby mountains. Four weeks later he surrendered to the Knox County Sheriff. On October 24, 1960, he was shot and killed when he again attempted to escape from the Knox County Jail.
Deputy DeVault had served with the Union County Sheriff's Office for 20 years. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and three daughters.