Chief of Police John Holmes Ferriss

John Holmes Ferriss

Chief John Ferriss was shot and killed by a suspect he had arrested several months earlier. Chief Ferriss was eating dinner at a local motel restaurant, in uniform, when the suspect approached him, grabbed his service weapon, and shot him five times. The suspect fled the scene and was apprehended by deputies a short time later.

The wife of the 32-year-old suspect said during a 15 hour period before he shot Chief Ferriss, he drank two quarts of whiskey and 23 bottles of beer. The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to 21 years. He was paroled on September 6, 1961.

At the time of Chief Ferriss' murder, Goodlettsville was an unincorporated town. Chief Ferriss had been deputized by the sheriff of Davidson County to serve as the town's police chief. He served in the position for 2 years and was survived by his wife and child.