Fallen Blount County Deputy Laid To Rest

Cocke County Sheriff CJ Ball says that his department and the Newport Police department have been assisting the Blount County Sheriff’s office during this difficult time. Both Cocke County and Newport helped with patrols and also were among those who were stationed at night to guard the home of fallen Blount County Deputy Greg McCowan. Both departments were also part of the casket guard for Deputy McCowan. Both departments also showed their support for their fallen brother in blue and their associates at the Blount County Sheriff’s Office by participating in the funeral procession from Knoxville to Maryville on Wednesday afternoon.

According to Sheriff Ball, the Blount County and Cocke County departments have a long history of working together. While CJ Ball is in his first term as sheriff in Cocke County, Blount County’s Sheriff’s office is helmed by Sheriff James Berrong, who is the longest tenured sheriff in the state of Tennessee. He has been in his post since 1989.

Fallen Blount County Deputy Greg McCowan was laid to rest Wednesday in Maryville. A funeral procession that stretched for miles made its was from the Sevier Heights Baptist Church in Knoxville to Grandview Cemetery in Maryville. Representatives from law enforcement agencies across the region participated in the funeral procession which saw traffic on the other side of Alcoa Highway come to a complete stop out of respect for Deputy McCowan and his family.

Governor Bill Lee ordered flags to be flown at half-staff on Wednesday at government offices and buildings throughout Tennessee. Then last night Neyland Stadium was lit in blue…giving the Knoxville skyline a blue tone in honor of the fallen deputy.