Trooper Douglas Wayne Tripp

As I sit in the foothills of Mount Guyot in the Great Smokies, Cosby TN with a light rain falling while on vacation week with my family sleeping inside, I thought of this man as I have in the past. His death was in the same month and year as I became a deputy sheriff, now 27 years ago. Back then, there was no social media or instant information, only the local news reporting the murder of one of its sons and protectors. It’s as senseless now to me as it was back then.
I have thought of him countless times over the years as an example of the evil that men do while trying my best to stay vigilant of those threats as I’m doing paperwork in the best hidden and secreted places I can find. I believe that “you’ll never know what never happened. “ Perhaps that lesson helped to keep me safe over all these years. I will never know, but I owe him for the reminder of his sacrifice burned deeply into my mind. He should never had to seek such a place in a righteous world while simply doing his job for his community. No one had the right to take his life or his family away from him.
Now, to see that the coward that took this man’s life has been free for ten years and spent less time in prison than my Brother gave in years of service to his fellow citizens and country is a travesty and a disgrace. May all that let this happen be ashamed.
To Miss Deborah and all that loved or cared for him, I believe that you will see him again one day in Glory! Until then, know that good men and women like Trooper Tripp stood for those who could not stand for themselves,. I am grateful for and honor his life.

Lt. James Wilson
Blount County Sheriff’s Office, TN

July 22, 2018