Grainger County Sheriff's Department, Tennessee
End of Watch: Wednesday, April 10, 1889
Age: 49
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: April 10, 1889
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Both killed
Sheriff Samuel Greenlee was shot and killed as he attempted to arrest a man who had escaped from prison. Sheriff Greenlee had tracked the suspect to a location where he was hiding with another wanted suspect. Sheriff Greenlee approached and demanded that the suspects surrender. The suspects opened fire, killing Sheriff Greenlee.
One suspect was arrested the next day. He was later taken from his holding cell and hung by a group of angry civilians. The second suspect was tracked down by a 16-year-old boy and shot and killed.
Sheriff Greenlee was survived by his wife. He was a Union Civil War Veteran who served as a sergeant with the 4th Tennessee Calvary, Company C.