Oldest Serving Lawmen Killed In the Line of Duty

Constable Ross Potter

On August 19, 2011, Carter County, Tennessee, Constable Ross Potter passed away from injuries he sustained in an on-duty automobile accident two weeks earlier. Constable Potter had served an amazing 29-years in law enforcement and was absolutely loved by the members of his community, as can be read in the Reflections left on his memorial.

One of the most amazing things about Constable Potter is that he was still serving his community at the age of 81 when he died in the line of duty. In fact, only one other actively serving law enforcement officer who has been killed in the line of duty was older than him.

Today we recognize the four octagenarian law enforcement officers who have fallen in the line of duty: *

Town Sergeant John Smith, 83
Foster Police Department, Rhode Island
EOW:  June 21, 1832

Chief of Police Taylor Walker, 81
Adairville Police Department, Kentucky
EOW: September 10, 1939

Constable Ross Potter, 81
Carter County Sixth District Constable's Office, Tennessee
EOW: August 19, 2011

Night Marshal Alexander Sutton, 80
Waynesville Police Department, Missouri
EOW: June 25, 1952

* Chief of Police Franklin Culp, of the Fostoria (Ohio) Police Department died at the age of 84 from gunshot wounds he sustained in the line of duty 16 years earlier, at the age of 68.