Greene County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee
End of Watch Sunday, June 28, 1942
Add to My HeroesThomas Melvin Ball
Deputy Melvin Ball was killed when he was struck in the head with a scale weight as he and two other deputies broke up a disturbance involving five juveniles at a general store at 8:00 pm.
The other deputies were placing two of the juveniles into a patrol car when another one struck Deputy Ball in the head. Deputy Ball was taken to a local hospital, where he died the following day.
All five juveniles were apprehended. Four were released, and the other was jailed for murder.
Deputy Ball was a United States Army WWI veteran. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, three brothers, and a sister.
Bio
- Age 52
- Tour Not available
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Assault
- Incident Date Saturday, June 27, 1942
- Weapon Blunt object
- Offender Charged with murder
Most Recent Reflection
View all 9 ReflectionsDeputy Sheriff Ball,
On today, the 80th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice-not just as a Law Enforcement Officer but for our Country as well when you served with the U.S. Army as a member of the 30th “Old Hickory” Division in Europe fighting the Germans during World War I. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.
R.I.P.
USBP
Anonymous
United States Border Patrol
June 28, 2022
Recent LODD Deaths
Corporal Timothy J. O'Connor, Jr.
Pennsylvania State Police, PA
EOW: March 8, 2026
Deputy Sheriff Kaleb Mitchell
Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, NC
EOW: March 7, 2026
Master Trooper Steven J. Perry
North Carolina Highway Patrol, NC
EOW: March 1, 2026
Conservation Enforcement Officer Senior Shawn Nixon
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, AL
EOW: November 23, 2025
Corporal David M. Hathcock
Montgomery Police Department, AL
EOW: February 22, 2026
Correctional Officer Dustin Pedigo
Tennessee Department of Correction, TN
EOW: February 25, 2026
Deputy Sheriff Michael Hislope
Christian County Sheriff's Office, MO
EOW: February 24, 2026
Deputy Sheriff Gabriel Ramirez
Christian County Sheriff's Office, MO
EOW: February 23, 2026
Deputy Sheriff Kenneth Lewis
Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: February 23, 2026

