KINGSPORT — With dinner, remembrance and heartfelt words from officials and loved ones, Sullivan County came together Friday for its first-ever combined Fallen Officer Memorial Service.
The service honored 22 men who died in the line of duty while serving with the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, Kingsport Police Department and Bristol Tennessee Police Department.
Held during National Police Week, the ceremony brought together families, law enforcement officers, and community leaders at MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center.
A dinner preceded a lineup of guest speakers, each paying tribute to the legacy of those who gave their lives in service.
“This is a very important event, and the first time we’ve brought the entire county together like this,†said Sullivan County Sheriff Jeff Cassidy. “We want the families of these fallen heroes to know that their loved ones are not forgotten. They’re always part of our law enforcement family.â€
During the ceremony, 2nd District Attorney General Barry Staubus reflected on two days he said are “burnished†into his soul: Nov. 27, 2004, when Kingsport Police Officer Mark Vance was killed and Feb. 26, 2019, when Sullivan County Deputy Stephen Hinkle was fatally shot.
“They were both cold, rainy days. I remember the phone calls, the anguish in the voices on the other end. I saw the worst of human nature,†Staubus said. “But I also saw the best. “Despite their grief, officers from across agencies carried out their work with professionalism, composure and strength.â€
State Sen. Bobby Harshbarger shared a few words of his own, urging the community to support loved ones who were left behind.
“Today we honor the men and women who stood between danger and safety, chaos and peace,†he said. “Their sacrifice speaks to a calling few are willing to answer, and their courage leaves a legacy we must carry forward. As Psalms, chapter 82, verse 34 reminds us, Defend the weak and the fatherless. Uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed, rescue the weak and the needy and deliver them from the hand of the wicked.â€
Other speakers included Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director David Rausch, Tennessee Highway Patrol Major Stacey Heatherly, Bluff City City Manager Michelle Roberts, Sullivan County Commissioner Gary Stidham and Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs.
Rausch thanked the families for their sacrifice and spoke of the deep respect owed to officers.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to each of you who serve, knowing that every moment brings uncertainty. There is no more honorable way to live than to protect others.â€
Major Heatherly echoed that message.
“Each name we honor tonight represents a life of purpose,†she said. “They stood between danger and safety, knowing each shift could be their last. To the families — your strength humbles us.â€
Among those remembered was Deputy Stephen Dwight Reiner. His son, now a trooper himself, was honored during the ceremony.
“If your father could see you now, he would be so proud,†Heatherly said.
Many speakers reflected on personal stories of loss and those who have given their lives to public service.
“These officers filled a gap that no law can fill, the space between danger and safety,†said Commissioner Stidham. “They stood for something bigger than themselves.â€
Sheriff Cassidy said the service is a reminder of the promise law enforcement makes every day.
“When I hire someone, I can’t promise they’ll come home,†he said. “But I can promise that if something happens, we will always honor them and their families will always be taken care of.â€
The 22 fallen officers were read aloud. They included: Deputy Sheriff Hubert Webb, Constable Bruce Barker, Sgt. Arthur Carroll Lane, Patrolman Blayton Mitchell Parker, Sgt. Roscoe Teague, Deputy Sheriff Steve N. Mullins, Deputy Sheriff Stephen Dwight Reiner, Reserve Deputy Barry Shelton, Deputy Sheriff Robert Boland Sr., Sgt. Stephen Billy Hinkle, Deputy Sheriff Roger Allen Mitchell, Sgt. Joshua Wayne Stewart Special Officer J.M. Carmack, Patrolman John F. Smith, Patrolman George W. Frazier, Patrolman John E. Mills, Patrolman Ira H. Burgess, Patrolman Samuel Houston Childress, Patrolling Pilot Luther Maze, Patrolman Jackie Lewis Phillips, Police Officer Mark Edward Vance, and Special Deputy Lee Eldreth.
