| Sources |
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 12 Jun 2015.
Upland Chronicles: Huskey killed 40 years ago in the line of duty
CARROLL MCMAHAN
Gatlinburg Patrolman Jerry Dean Huskey was only 22 when he was killed in the line of duty on June 14, 1975.
Bronze plaque honoring Jerry Dean Huskey in front of the Gatlinburg Police Department.
A portrait of Jerry Dean Huskey by James Eastin hangs in the lobby of Gatlinburg Police Department.
“He was a real good boy who thought a lot of his family,” said Gatlinburg Police Chief W. B. Ogle. “I never had to worry about him doing the right thing. I guess it was because he really loved being a policeman.”
On June 14, 1975, while patrolling the streets of Gatlinburg, patrolman Jerry Dean Huskey, 22, died from a bullet wound he received from a suspect who was resisting arrest. At the time, the last police officer to die while on duty in Sevier County was Sevierville Police Chief Newt Bogart, who was killed by a man later adjudged insane on July 20, 1941.
Huskey died early the morning of Saturday, June 13, following an altercation that started shortly before midnight. Huskey and Gordon Whaley were on a routine patrol of downtown Gatlinburg near the Steak Chalet Restaurant on the Parkway.
According to Ogle, the officers observed the suspect, Randall Brown, 20, of Knoxville, who appeared to be intoxicated walking down the sidewalk. They turned around and came back up the Parkway, and apprehended Brown for investigation in front of the First Baptist Church at the intersection of Parkway and Baskins Creek Road.
They informed Brown that he was under arrest for public drunkenness. Huskey and Whaley proceeded to search him. They placed him in a standard search stance with his hands on top of the patrol car. Huskey frisked his right side and discovered some pills and a packet containing a white powdered substance in Brown’s left sock.
Huskey informed Brown of his rights and told him he was under arrest for suspicion of possession of illegal drugs. The patrolman then proceeded to frisk Brown’s right side. While Huskey was frisking him, Brown reached around and took Huskey’s gun from the holster on his right side.
The two men struggled for the gun until they fell on the pavement together. Huskey was on top of the suspect when the gun went off, and the bullet entered Huskey’s head between his eyes. Gordon Whaley fouoght Brown for the gun.
During the struggle, Brown bit Whaley on the arm. Whaley secured the weapon, and Brown attempted to flee but was caught by two local boys, Gary Cole and Byron Bales, who happened to be nearby.
Huskey was transported by ambulance to Sevier County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Gone was a young man who was at times torn between his two main aspirations – to be a police officer and to play professional baseball.
Born April 10, 1953, Huskey was a 1971 graduate of Gatlinburg-Pittman High School, where he was named most valuable baseball player two years in a row. He was a son of Bill and Margie Ogle Huskey. His siblings include brothers Don, Timmy and Troy, and sister Barbara Whaley. Huskey was engaged to Earlene Smelcer. Their wedding date was set for Sept. 8, 1975.
Chief Ogle, Sheriff Carmen Townsend and Attorney General Al Schmutzer spent most of the day following the shooting investigating the incident. The articles found in Brown’s sock were sent to a Knoxville laboratory. The white powdered substance proved to be cocaine.
Because he was suspected of killing a police officer while on duty, Brown was automatically charged with first degree murder.
The funeral for the slain policeman was held Sunday afternoon, June 15, at Gum Stand Baptist Church. In attendance were his fellow policemen, rangers from Great Smoky Mountains National Park and members of the Sevier County Sherriff’s Department. They were joined by representatives from the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Sevierville Police Department, as well as the North Carolina Highway Patrol and the Jefferson County and Kingsport police departments, to form a silent, respectful honor guard.
In a preliminary hearing, Brown was bound over to the grand jury. Trial Justice Judge Charles Edwards bound Brown over and denied bail bond of $10,000, after Brown had requested the preliminary hearing and pleaded not guilty. After Judge Ken Porter denied the defense’s motion for a change of venue, Brown was convicted of murder and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. He was eventually paroled.
Letters of commendation of valor were given to Byron Bales and Gary Cole for helping the police capture Brown. The presentation was made at the National Fraternal Order of Police national convention by the group’s president in Nashville in August 1975.
A year after his death, plans were announced for the Jerry Dean Huskey Memorial to be built next to the Dr. Ralph Shilling Memorial at Gatlinburg City Hall. Designed by James Embry and Associates, a Gatlinburg architectural firm, the memorial featured a drinking fountain, plants and a memorial plaque. Later, the plaque was moved to the new police department.
The Gatlinburg Police Department was formed in 1945. In 70 years, Jerry Dean Huskey is the only officer killed in the line of duty.
Gatlinburg Community Police Programs has established the Jerry Dean Huskey Memorial 5K. Funds raised will benefit the newly established Jerry Dean Huskey Memorial Scholarship Program, which will offer a $500 scholarship to Gatlinburg-Pittman High School students beginning with the class of 2016. This year’s race was Saturday.
A grateful community is keeping alive the memory of Jerry Dean Huskey, who bravely put his life on the line performing his sworn duty as a police officer.
Carroll McMahan is the special projects facilitator for the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce and serves as Sevier County historian.
The Upland Chronicles series celebrates the past of Sevier County. If you have suggestions for future topicscontact Carroll McMahan at 453-6411 or cmcmahan@scoc.org; or Ron Rader at 604-9161 or ron@ronraderproperties.com.
- [S74] Atchley Funeral Home Records, Volume IV, 1987-1999, Larry D. Fox, (Smoky Mountain Historical Society), 21 Mar 1996.
Rev. Levi Ogle obituary
- [S76] Atchley Funeral Home Records, Volume III, 1974-1986, Larry D. Fox, (Smoky Mountain Historical Society), 14 Jun 1975.
Huskey, Jerry Dean 22 b. 4/10/53 TN d. 6/14/75 shot while on duty DOA SCH Gatlinburg policeman f. Bill B Huskey m. Margie Ogle SMMG Survivors: parents R2 Sev bro Don Huskey Timmy Troy sis Mrs Barbara Whaley g-parents Mr & Mrs Carl Huskey Rev & Mrs Levi Ogle gg-parent Lee M Ogle.
- [S34] In the Shadow of the Smokies, Smoky Mountain Historical Society, (1993), 382.
Who died a tragic and untimely death while performing his duty as a police officer with the Gatlinburg Police Dept.
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