MARYVILLE, TENNESSEE – Blount County’s law enforcement community and members of the public turned out at the Public Safety Plaza at Maryville Police Department for this morning’s Law Enforcement Memorial Service to honor Blount County’s fallen officers.
Blount County District Attorney General Ryan Desmond delivered the keynote remarks at this year’s memorial service.
Since 1911, Blount County has lost ten law enforcement officers in the line of duty. Most recently, Blount County Sheriff’s Deputy Greg McCowan was taken from his loved ones and his agency by gunfire in the line of duty on February 8, 2024. And on August 25, 2016, Maryville Officer Kenneth Moats was also taken from his loved ones and his agency by gunfire while responding to a call.
Blount County’s fallen heroes are as follows:
Maryville Officer James Henry Clemens, E.O.W. August 25, 1911
Alcoa Officer William M. Hunt, E.O.W. July 7, 1937
Maryville Officer Barton Coker, E.O.W. January 2, 1938
Alcoa Officer Fred Guffey, E.O.W. August 31, 1952
Blount County Deputy William Nuchols, E.O.W. October 7, 1956
Maryville Officer John Michael Callahan, II, E.O.W. February 21, 1981
Alcoa Officer Glen E. Giles, E.O.W. July 2, 1987
Alcoa Sgt. Timothy Joe Hunt, E.O.W. April 20, 2000
Maryville Officer Kenneth Ray Moats, E.O.W. August 25, 2016
Blount County Sheriff’s Deputy Greg McCowan, E.O.W. February 8, 2024
Those in attendance were honored with the singing talent of Lt. Mike Hicks who performed the “National Anthem” as well as bagpiper Cade Hackney who provided the bagpipe recessional.
During the ceremony, Sheriff James Lee Berrong retired Badge Number 344, the badge number used by Deputy Greg McCowan. A plaque in Deputy McCowan’s honor will be placed in the Blount County Justice Center. The plaque reads:
“Deputy Greg McCowan gave his life in service to Blount County – End of Watch 02.08.2024. In honor of his heroism, the Blount County Sheriff’s Office is retiring Badge Number 344. We have it from here.
The service was hosted by Maryville Police Department and held in conjunction with Peace Officers Memorial Day, which is held annually on May 15. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated this day, and is now part of the larger National Police Week to honor our nation’s fallen law enforcement officers.
