Allen Strickland

Allen Strickland was a longtime Tennessee law enforcement officer and emergency management official who spent his entire career serving McNairy County. He died on October 20, 2026, prompting tributes from the county he had served for more than three decades.

Strickland began his career in law enforcement with the Selmer Police Department before moving to the McNairy County Sheriff's Office. <cite index="1-5">Strickland served as chief deputy of McNairy County from 1997 to 2016.</cite> In that role he was a visible and trusted figure in the rural West Tennessee county, working alongside successive sheriffs on patrol, investigations and jail operations.

After stepping down as chief deputy, Strickland moved into emergency management. <cite index="1-6">He then took over the role of McNairy County Emergency Management director until September 2026.</cite> In that capacity he was responsible for coordinating the county's response to severe weather, disasters and other emergencies, a role that kept him in daily contact with residents, first responders and local officials long after he left the sheriff's office.

News of his death was announced on October 20, 2026. <cite index="1-4">McNairy County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of former chief deputy and retired McNairy County EMA director Allen Strickland.</cite> <cite index="1-3">“We are shocked and deeply saddened by his unexpected passing. Throughout his many years of public service, Allen dedicated himself to protecting and serving the people of McNairy County, leaving a lasting impact on our community and those who had the privilege of working alongside him,” said McNairy County Sheriff’s Office.</cite> Officials did not publicly state a cause of death. No age, birth date or surviving family members had been confirmed in public reporting as of the time of writing.

Tributes following his death focused on his decades of public service. Details of funeral or memorial arrangements had not yet been made public.