Holly MatkinMurfreesboro, TN – Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) Detective Jacob Beu died in the line of duty on May 7 after he was involved in a two-vehicle crash, according to his department.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) said Det. Beu, 31, was traveling southbound on Armstrong Valley Road in a GMC Sierra when he crossed into the oncoming lane while trying to negotiate a curve, WTVF reported.
THP said Det. Beu attempted to avoid colliding with an oncoming vehicle, but that he was unable to do so.
His fellow deputies responded to the scene after receiving a report of a crash and found Det. Beu suffering from critical injuries, WTVF reported.
He was rushed to Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro, where he succumbed to his injuries.
It is unclear whether anyone in the other vehicle was injured during the collision.
Det. Beu, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, served the RCSO for six years, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.
He was promoted to the rank of narcotics detective in 2022, Rutherford County Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh said in a press release.
The RCSO SWAT unit, of which Det. Beu was a member, was named Officer of the Month in August of 2021 due to their response during the “devastating floods” in Humphreys and Waverly County, Sheriff Fitzhugh said.
Det. Beu was also recognized in 2018 by Mothers Against Drunk Driving for arresting numerous impaired drivers.
“Detective Beu was a valued detective in the Narcotics Division,” Sheriff Fitzhugh said. “We send our sympathy to his family and his Sheriff’s Office family in his death.”
First responders from Rutherford County, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol joined the RCSO in escorting Det. Beu’s body to the Tennessee Medical Examiner’s Office in Nashville on Sunday afternoon, the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post.
Members of the La Vergne Fire Department draped a massive American flag above the roadway along the procession route on Interstate 24.
🔹 Blessed Are The Peacemakers 🔹
Detective Jacob Beu
Rutherford County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee
EOW: Sunday, May 7, 2023#EnoughIsEnough #OfficerDown #EOW #ThinBlueLine pic.twitter.com/YUMqvqviFM
— National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) (@GLFOP) May 9, 2023
Detective Jacob “Jake” Beu with the Rutherford Co. Sheriff’s Office was killed in a crash last weekend. His jiu jitsu family which makes up several members of law enforcement are remembering Jake’s life. We’ll have this story tonight on @NC5. pic.twitter.com/U9W68cfiXX
— Kelsey Gibbs (@kelseymgibbs) May 10, 2023
The MTSU Police Department would like to extend their condolences and support to the family and friends of Detective Jacob Beu and the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office. Detective Beu has befriended and mentored many officers at our department. He will be missed. Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/qIFdNbhbAs
— MTSU Police (@MTSUPolice) May 7, 2023
MFRD offers our condolences and prayers for the family of Detective Jacob Beu and Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office. pic.twitter.com/tas2XoX4Gi
— MBoroFireRescue (@BoroFireRescue) May 8, 2023
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office Detective Jacob Beu, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.
