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Incident
Trooper Joe Ward was struck and killed by a vehicle during foggy conditions while assisting at the scene of another accident on Pennyrile Parkway, half a mile from Hopkinsville. No charges were filed in connection with his death. Trooper Ward Was a United States Army Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Kentucky State Police for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents, brothers, and sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtneewh0ck7h5bd7jbbew- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Trooper Ward gave the Kentucky State Police 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Kentucky, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Joe Ward Jr. served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Accident
KY State Police has lost 30 officers; 16 of them lost to accidents.
Joe is one of 161 officers lost to accidents in KY, 16.4% of the 984 remembered there.
Joe is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Joe is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1973, 1 officer at KY State Police was lost to accidents, the 4th heaviest of 13 years on record. The heaviest was 1964, with 2.
In 1973, 3 officers in KY were lost to accidents, the 6th heaviest of 95 years on record. The heaviest was 1937, with 7.
In 1973, 90 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 13th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1973, 106 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 13th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Joe was 25. Of the 15 lost to accidents at KY State Police whose age is recorded, half were between 25 and 38.5; the middle age was 28. Joe had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Joe was 25. Of the 150 lost to accidents in KY whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 49.8; the middle age was 39. Joe had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Joe was 25. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Joe had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Joe was 25. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Joe had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 18.8% of these deaths at KY State Police, more than any other month. Mondays: 12.5%.
April holds 13.7% of these deaths in KY, more than any other month. Mondays: 12.4%.
April holds 7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.4%.
April holds 7% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 13.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 53.3% of all 30 deaths at KY State Police, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 16.4% of all 984 deaths in KY, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
KY State Police has 30 officers remembered here, Joe among them.
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Harold J. Toll
Nov 14, 1948
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Robert Renaker Miller
Feb 14, 1951
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Lee Trebu Huffman
May 8, 1953
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Herbert C. Bush
Oct 11, 1958
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William Everett Tevis
May 26, 1963
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Elmer Mobley, Jr.
May 28, 1964
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Cecil Walter Uzzle
May 28, 1964
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Delano G. Powell
Jul 8, 1965
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Mack Edward Brady
Nov 9, 1966
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William Harrel Barrett
Dec 19, 1971
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James Willard McNeely
Apr 8, 1972
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Walter Orville Thurtell
Sep 29, 1972
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Joe Ward, Jr.
Apr 23, 1973
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William Carter Smith
Apr 26, 1973
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John Wayne Hutchinson
Jun 4, 1975
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Bobby Allen McCoun, Jr.
Sep 1, 1975
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William Francis Pickard
Jan 21, 1976
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Willis Durwood Martin
Apr 26, 1977
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Clinton Eugene Cunningham
Feb 11, 1979
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Edward Ray Harris
Nov 7, 1979
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Jerome Scott Clifton
Oct 1, 1980
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Darrell Vendl Phelps
Aug 7, 1981
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Johnny Montague Edrington
Dec 20, 1988
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Johnny Gordon Adkins
Nov 24, 1995
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Jonathan Kyle Leonard
Dec 19, 2006
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Anson Blake Tribby
Jan 22, 2013
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Eric Keith Chrisman
Jun 23, 2015
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David Ray Gibbs
Aug 7, 2015
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Joseph Cameron Ponder
Sep 13, 2015
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Hayden Phillips
Sep 28, 2026
Where
Military Service
Joe Ward Jr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit Joe Ward Jr.’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
29 officers from KY State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
