In the quiet town of Pegram, Tennessee, the night of February 4, 1982, was shattered by an act of violence that claimed the life of a young law enforcement officer. Charles Frank Jordan, a 23-year-old white male, had been with the Cheatham County Sheriff's Department for only a short time, with reports indicating his service was between six and ten months. A U.S. Air Force veteran, he was off-duty when a burglar alarm sounded at a pharmacy on Route 70.
Living nearby, he responded to the call.
Upon arriving at the scene, Jordan observed two individuals inside the pharmacy and took a defensive position behind his patrol car while awaiting backup. Unseen, a third suspect, acting as a lookout, approached him from behind and fired a 12-gauge shotgun, striking him in the back. The three suspects, who were brothers aged 28, 25, and 15, fled the scene but were later apprehended.
The investigation identified the 25-year-old brother as the shooter. The two older brothers were subsequently convicted of felony murder and both received life sentences for their roles in the crime. After a period of incarceration, they were eventually paroled. In a lasting tribute to his sacrifice, a section of Highway 70 in Cheatham County was renamed The Frank Jordan Memorial Highway in 2000. He was survived by his mother, Reba, his sister, Pamela, and his brother, Johnny.
