In a heartfelt display of community remembrance and respect, a recently constructed bridge in Friendsville, Blount County, was dedicated to Deputy Greg McCowan. McCowan was killed during a traffic stop back in February. The dedication ceremony, held on Big Springs Road, saw the participation of family, friends, and colleagues honoring the fallen deputy.
Blount County Sheriff James Berrong recounted to WATE the emotional weight of the dedication, expressing the profundity it held for him personally. The bridge which now bears McCowan's name, acts as a permanent testament to his service and sacrifice. After a touching statement, McCowan's daughter, Cayley, acknowledged the abundant community support. She said, "Thank you to the Blount County community for the unbelievable amount of support," in an emotional tribute to her father.
U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn spoke at the event, detailing the significance of the Deputy Greg McCowan Memorial Bridge. "He was the kind of man to give a helping hand to anybody who needed it," Cayley McCowan described in a statement obtained by WVLT, highlighting her father's selflessness and dedication to service.
According to WBIR, an array of state and local leaders attended the ceremony. Giving opening remarks, Senator Blackburn emphasized the gesture as reflective of the community's unwavering support. Sheriff Berrong hoped to not endure the pain of a similar ceremony, underscoring, "I don't want to do this again," in an admission that illuminated both his grief and the gravity of being a law enforcement officer today.
The bridge over Big Springs Road, which will carry traffic into the foreseeable future, stands as both a physical and symbolic passage—a memorial to the role McCowan played in his community, detailed in the signs that flank the bridge's entrances. In February, following the tragic incident, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee attended the deputy's public funeral service, recognizing the ultimate price McCowan paid in the line of duty. The suspect behind the fatal shooting, Kenneth DeHart, is currently facing multiple charges, including premeditated murder as per the updates from local authorities.
