This Year Marks 60 Years Since Greeneville Police Officer John Freshour Was Killed In Crash

This year marks the 60th anniversary of a Greeneville Police Officer who died in the line of duty.

40-year-old Lieutenant John Freshour was responding to a false fire alarm on the morning of December 14, 1964, when his cruiser collided with a fire truck that was also responding to the call.  There was no fire, and it was never discovered who called in the false alarm.

The wreck happened at the intersection of Depot Street and Main Street just moments after midnight.  Then-Police Chief A. L. Shepherd said the driver of the fire truck, Hilbert Hayes, was treated for shock and bruises, but was not seriously injured.  Another firefighter on the truck, George Luttrell, escaped injury.

Reports of the time said that Chief Shepherd said that Freshour was on the south side of town when the alarm came in for a fire on Leonard Street.  The fire truck had responded through Depot Street in order to avoid the railroad crossing.  Both vehicles reportedly had their lights and sirens activated at the time of the crash.  The police cruiser was struck broadside by the fire truck, and Freshour was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Freshour had gone to work for the Greeneville Police Department on October 31, 1952, and was promoted to Sergeant in 1954.  He rose to the rank of Lieutenant in 1963.

The Kingsport Police Department sent several officers to serve duty in Greeneville in order that all Greeneville officers could attend the funeral.  The Kingsport Times Newspaper said that serving for Kingsport Police were Sergeants Brady Lane and Bill Wright, and Patrolmen C. E. Burgess, E. A. Browley, R. M Dickens, and J. C. Robbins.

Freshour was a native of Baileyton and lived on Lake Street.  He was survived by two children, ages 6 and 10.  He is one of sixteen law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty in Greene County over the last century.  The following were found listed on websites honoring fallen officers.

Others who have been listed as Fallen Officers include:
• State Trooper Eugene Brakebill, who died Oct. 9, 1966;
• GPD Officer Linden Bullington, who died Oct. 16, 1990;
• Auxiliary Deputy Sheriff Robert J. “Bobby” Desormeaux, who died July 11, 1994;
• Auxiliary Deputy Sheriff William Guy Ward, who died July 11, 1994;
• Deputy Sheriff Charles Edward “Eddie” Baskette Jr., who died March 23, 1998;
• U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer Stephen A. Bowman, who died June 24, 1998;
• Deputy Sheriff David H. Rader, who died March 17, 2003; and
• Sheriff’s Corrections Officer Kristi K. Irwin, who died April 10, 2009.