MARYVILLE, Tenn. — To the Blount County Sheriff's Office, Deputy Greg McCowan was a hero in life and death. He was shot and killed in the line of duty while responding to a traffic stop.
“Law enforcement is a brotherhood, no matter what state you're from," Ken Duelley, a retired police officer, said. "I've lived here since 2012. I moved down here from Pennsylvania. I was an officer just outside of Philly, so anytime this happens, you know, I always want to take a moment and just pay a respect for this officer and his partner.”
Deputy McCowan was shot by Kenneth Wayne DeHart Jr., who fled the scene after the shooting and is still on the run.
Jason Fox, who came to the memorial, said he lives near the area where the suspect’s car was found.
“I was sitting in my house, you know, we didn't know what was going on exactly until we kind of heard more about it," Fox said. "And I was sitting there armed because I've got children to protect.”
Fox said it's bittersweet seeing the memorial.
"It's kind of sombering in a way to just think that it was his last ride, you know, his last time seeing his family, his last time seeing his friends talk on the phone, you know, and for him to go out and just serve and protect and never to make it back home to his loved ones," Fox said. "It's just sad, you know, and you just hate to see it"
Fox said he brought his son with him to pay his respects to the fallen deputy. He said it’s important to honor those who put their lives on the line for the community.
“It shows you know that they are here to serve and protect even though there are instances where things don't make may or may not go like they're supposed to, I think it shows that the community can come together in support of, you know, a loved one lost or an incident that happens like this," he said.
People who knew Deputy McCowan, and those who didn’t, came to the memorial to reflect on his service to leave something at the site.
“I think officers put their life on the line for us," Liam Marshall, who was at the memorial paying his respects, said. "And we need to pay our respects back to them when their life is taken from us. So I think that it was a good idea to come out here and pay our respects to these officers. It makes me feel really nice that there are some good people out there and that pay their respects to people like this. So I really am glad that we have people like that.”
Deputy Shelby Eggers was also shot during the traffic stop. She was sent to UT Medical Center to treat a gunshot wound to the leg but is recovering at home.