I, like many others here in Bradley County, pray for the safety and well-being of our deputies every single day. No one understands the volatile, uncertain nature of law enforcement better than law enforcement personnel themselves. In public service, what may seem to be a routine task can turn deadly in a heartbeat. A simple traffic stop, a warrant to be served, a court proceeding, a law enforcement officer never knows when the unexpected will intrude upon the situation, turning the mundane into the virulent.

This deadly X-factor, the specter of sudden violence, is simply a part of every public safety officer's daily routine. And while every precaution is taken, there are just no guarantees that a lethal and tragic situation won't develop at a moment's notice. Invariably, when that happens, when a deputy or police officer falls in the line of duty, it never fails to leave an overwhelming sense of grief and loss in its wake that goes beyond words.

My heart goes out to the family, friends and colleagues of Grundy County Sheriff's Deputy Shane Tate who was gunned down on June 5 while attempting to serve a warrant in Tracy City for probation violation. The suspect later turned the gun on himself. Two lives gone, two families destroyed. A senseless and absolutely tragic waste.

The death of 29-year-old Dep. Tate was particularly heartbreaking because he left a young wife and five young children behind. He had been with the Grundy County Sheriff's Office for three years and a patrol deputy for less than one. He had only just graduated from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy two weeks before his death. Academy Director Brian Grisham described him as "a good young man, dedicated to his family." He said Dep. Tate never failed to spend time with each of his children every night before he went to bed. In fact, every person in the Grundy community seems stunned and grief-stricken at the loss of this good young man.

During the course of our 172-year history here in Bradley County, we have taken casualties as well. Sheriff Israel Smith was killed in 1922 while breaking up an illegal whiskey-making operation; Dep. Taylor Caywood was killed in1932 while transporting a dangerous criminal from out of state; Dep. Kenneth Wright was killed in 1971 while serving a warrant; Cleveland City Police Officer Bud Cash was killed in 1955 while running emergency traffic; and Reserve Dep. Al McCollum died in 1989 during a rescue attempt.

Additionally, just in the past seven years alone, five law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty in east Tennessee: Hamilton County Dep. Donald Bond (age 35, killed Sept. 6, 2001); Chattanooga Police Officer Julie Jacks (age 26, killed May 6, 2002); Loudon County Sheriff's Dep. Jason Scott (age 24, killed March 4, 2004); Correctional Officer Wayne "Cotton" Morgan (age 57, killed Aug. 9, 2005); and Roane County Dep. Bill Jones (age 53, killed May 11, 2006).

This latest tragedy involving Dep. Shane Tate serves to underscore the inherent risks involved in law enforcement and the fact that nothing can be taken for granted when dealing with the unpredictable nature of a desperate person. The men and women who willingly serve and protect citizens they don't even know in dangerous situations, and at times, pay the ultimate price while doing it, are an invaluable asset to any community and we should all feel indebted to them. I believe it is our duty to support them in any and every way we can to enhance their safety and well-being.

As I write these words, my prayer is that God's tender mercies will afford Dep. Tate's wife and five children some degree of peace during this horrific and traumatic time in their lives. And may God bless and protect all men and women who wear the badge.

As ever, if you would like to learn more about the operations of the Bradley County Sheriff's Office, you can log onto our website: www.bradleysheriff.com. We have posted dozens of BCSOtv podcasts there in which we offer important information and address issues of concern relevant to all Bradley County citizens. I encourage you to check them out. You can also call us at (423) 728-7300, or email me directly at comments@bradleysheriff.com. Our mailing address is 2290 Blythe Ave., SE, Cleveland TN 37311. I try hard to answer all letters and emails I receive. I may sometimes be a bit late with a reply, but it is important to me that people take time to write, and I do try to respond.