NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A portion of a Nashville street has been renamed in honor of a Davidson County deputy who was killed in the line of duty 25 years ago.
The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office says a portion of Summer Place is now officially known as Jerry Newson Way. Newson’s family, along with Metro officials and local law enforcement, including Sheriff Daron Hall and retired sheriff Gayle Ray, attended a dedication ceremony on Tuesday.
Newson was attempting to serve an eviction notice on Briggs Avenue when he was shot and killed at 7:40 a.m. He was 33.
“For years, Summer Place sat in the shadow of the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office warrant division and training academy. This building was demolished a couple years ago to make way for the sheriff’s office new headquarters,” Hall said. “It was extremely important to keep Jerry’s memory alive and we felt there was no better way to do that than rename the street in his honor. Forevermore, our headquarters will be located at One Jerry Newson Way.”
The sheriff’s office says Hall approached District 6 Council Member Brett Withers about renaming the street. The Metro Council passed an ordinance in July, granting the request.
Newson was a Tennessee State University graduate and worked at the sheriff’s office for seven years. According to a release, his coworkers will always remember him as “The Rock.”
