People at the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy, where Shane Tate graduated from training just two weeks ago, knew him as “a good young man, dedicated to his family,” academy Director Brian Grisham said Thursday.

“The other students would tease him because he had to talk to all his kids every night before he went to bed,” Mr. Grisham said.

The Grundy County Sheriff’s Department deputy, who was shot and killed Thursday morning while serving a warrant in Tracy City, Tenn., had a wife and five children, acquaintances said.

Mr. Tate, 29, graduated 21st of 78 after his 10-week academy class. He had been on patrol for less than a year, though he had worked corrections in the sheriff’s department since April 5, 2006, Mr. Grisham said.

Friends cried and held each other outside the Grundy County Jail in Altamont, Tenn., Thursday. In nearby Coalmont, Tenn., an American flag flew at half-staff outside the Coalmont Fire/Rescue station.

Grundy County Clerk Jimmy Rogers knew Mr. Tate for several years and briefly spoke with him Wednesday in the courthouse.

“He was a very dedicated employee,” Mr. Rogers said. “He’d go into work 20 minutes to an hour early. This is sad, not only for his family and loved ones, but for all the people who dealt with him, along with citizens of Grundy County.”

Grundy County Mayor LaDue “Boo” Bouldin said he knew the slain deputy and had spent most of the morning with Sheriff Brent Myers. The sheriff was “very upset,” he said.

“I knew Shane well,” Mr. Bouldin said. “It’s definitely a terrible tragedy for our county and certainly to his family.”

Mike Sartain, a resident who lives in the area off U.S. Highway 41, said Thursday that he didn’t know the deputy but he knew he didn’t deserve to die.

“The deputy didn’t do anything wrong,” Mr. Sartain said. “He was just doing his job.”

Staff writer Ben Benton contributed to this story.