Officers Killed in Line of Duty

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Originally published in the ECHGS newsletter.  Used with their permission

James M. Land & Jesse Arvin - 22 March 1857 - Constable Land and Deputy Sheriff Arvin killed by Edward Hawkins near Old Landing as they were returning him from Proctor for various crimes he had committed. Hawkins was hanged on May 29, 1857.

T. E. Park, Marshall - 12 December 1899

Henry T. Reed & Robert G. Philpot - 20 August 1920 - Chief of Police Robert G. Philpot & Deputy Sheriff Henry Reed; Reed in custody of George Estes, on route to jail; asked by Philpot for a grip [suitcase] of Estes, and for the prisoner; Reed refused; Philpot went and got service of Railroad Detective Joseph Spivey; returned in front of Durbin Department Store in Ravenna; Philpot again demanded the prisoner and knocked Reed down; while falling Reed shot Philpot and then Spivey shot Reed who was on the ground. Reed died next day and was buried on Cob Hill; Philpot buried at London, KY.

Charles Gurley - 29 January 1922 - Chief of Police Charles Gurley who was hired by Irvine on I December 1921; famous moonshine still raider from Jellico, Tennessee; killed in his office at the West building; arrested for murder was Harry Daniels, Daniels said that Gurlev arrested him while he [Gurley] was under the influence of liquor. Hotel manager, James Shaw, supported this claim. Dispute at Gurley's office & Daniels shot him 3 times. Robert Flynn charged with aiding in the murder. The Coroner's jury returned in self-defense but was overturned by Grand Jury and warrant of murder was issued. Bond by Daniel's father Mr. Stephen Daniels of Jinks. Gurley was the 3rd policeman killed in Irvine.

James Sexton - 28 May 1922 - Police Chief James Sexton of Ravenna; shot 4 times by Jack King; shot Sexton 2 times with own gun-. Mr. A. C. Allen testified that the first bullet struck the sole of his shoe as he sat 'in front of Hatfield's store holding the Hatfield's baby; King given life sentence.

Bud Isaacs - 7 February 1928 - Bud Isaacs, 45, Constable, killed by Leonard Johnson at Blue Banks; Johnson had been sought by authorities for several reasons and has always eluded officers; lured out by Earl Winkler on pretense of renting him some land; awaited by Isaacs who called for him to raise his hands; Johnson turned and fired a shotgun, instantly killing Isaacs. Isaacs lived near the Jackson-Estill line in the vicinity of Powell [neighborhood, not County], had wife and 8 children. Leonard was the son of Wade Johnson of Reges.

Arthur J. Brookshire - 6 May 1928 - Sheriff Arthur J. Brookshire; shot 3 times by Dave Estes at Estes' home on Poplar St. in Ravenna. He & Chief of Police, W.N. Durbin of Irvine, stopped Estes & wife in Ravenna & asked to search saddle pockets of Estes' wife. Estes told them they could not without a search warrant; Brookshire sent Durbin after the warrant while he kept watch over the Estes'. Durbin & Deputy Samples returned, heard the shots, and found Brookshire dead. Estes was lodged in Lexington jail; Arthur's [Brookshire] wife was Maud Benton, the dau of J.B. Benton of High Bridge [Jessamine County], she was appointed & later fill the term of sheriff of Estill County; no children but raised. Mrs. Herbert Winbum. Thelma Winkler & Dorothy Brookshire, also 2 colored children: Tom & Aaron Miller; change of venue was overruled by Judge Sam Hurst; had Breathitt County jury; Estes given death certificate in May 1928.

George Carroll - 27 May 1934 - George Carroll, 23, Irvine Patrolman; skull pierced by bullet fired by Jeff Walling, 26; Walling was riding in a car driven by Lindsey Tipton, 2 1, and two other occupants which were Everett Tipton, 19, and Sam Canter, 24 -. in pursuit of Tipton's car, Carroll jumped on the running board from the taxi of Nelson Tuttle, commanded by Chief of Police George Mavs of Ravenna and Deputy Sheriff Jesse Henderson, Constable Elbridge Rucker & Carroll giving chase; wrecked the car at Locomotive Street and fled over the L&N tracks; Walling was captured on the Old Pike by Mays & C.C. Standfill- Lindsey taken at ball park later; the other two fled over the river by boat but gave up on 28 May; Carroll survived by parents-. Mr. & Mrs. Blaine Carroll, brother, Clayton Carroll; 3 sisters: Misses Josle, Retha and Rena Carroll, all of West Irvine.

Page Mason, Chief of Police, Ravenna - 27 June 1959.

Robert Walker, Chief of Police, Irvine - 16 February 1986.

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