LAW ENFORCEMENT SPOTLIGHT: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALL TURNS DEADLY FOR OFFICER

D.V. CALL TURNS DEADLY

Prosecutor considers capital punishment for man who gunned down responding deputy –a father and National Guardsman.

STORY BY NICK PERNA PHOTO COURTESY OF HARDIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT

This month’s featured law enforcement officer is another military veteran. Matthew Locke was a veteran of the Tennessee National Guard, including a deployment to Afghanistan, and had served with the Hardin County Sheriff’s Department for seven years. I use the word “was” because, unfortunately, Deputy Locke gave his life while serving his community.

On September 25th of this year, Deputy Locke was assisting another deputy in investigating a domestic disturbance. A side note on these types of calls: Domestic disturbance calls are some of the most dangerous that officers respond to. Emotions are high, and often an act of violence has occurred between the parties. Victims, often the reporting parties in these types of disputes, frequently turn on officers when they are forced to detain or arrest a loved one.

What makes these calls even more dangerous is that they are a routine, daily occurrence for most patrol officers

L.E. SPOTLIGHT

Deputy Matthew Locke, a Tennessee father and Afghanistan War veteran, was killed while responding to a domestic violence call, “some of the most dangerous calls that officers respond to.”

and deputies, increasing the likelihood of a violent encounter.

ON THAT FATEFUL night, deputies responded to a residence in the city of Clifton, Tennessee, at around 8:30 in the evening. They made contact with Todd Alan Stricklin, a 48-year-old male. Stricklin was armed with a handgun. Responding deputies ordered him to drop it. Instead, he fired, striking Deputy Locke as he arrived on scene to assist.

Stricklin took off running into the woods. He was located several hours later by Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers.

Deputy Locke was taken to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. As is all too often the case, he was survived by a young daughter and his wife. He was 30 years old.

The one bright side to this is that in Tennessee they value law enforcement and have no tolerance for violent criminals. Matthew Stowe, the Hardin County district attorney, took a hard stance. “Upon learning the details of the shooting, I have activated the death penalty team who will be reviewing the evidence and charges to determine if this shooting of a law enforcement officer meets the standard for a capital murder crime,” he told WSMV News in Nashville. “While other parts of the country struggle with unlawfulness and activists who encourage violence against police, the people of our West Tennessee district stand firm in support for our officers and the rule of law.”

Maybe if every jurisdiction took violence towards law enforcement as seriously as Hardin County does, we might see a decrease in felonious assault resulting in deaths. Unfortunately, they are the exception, not the norm.

So, with the holidays fast approaching, keep the family of Deputy Locke in your prayers, along with all the other families that will have to endure their first holiday without a loved one who died protecting others. 

Editor’s note: Author Nick Perna is a sergeant with the Redwood City Police Department in northern California. He previously served as a paratrooper in the US Army and is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also has a master’s degree from the University of San Francisco. He is a frequent contributor to multiple print and online forums on topics related to law enforcement, firearms, tactics and veterans issues.