Incident
Deputy Gordon Givens was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a drunk miner. Despite being mortally wounded, Deputy Givens shot the suspect twice.
The man was charged with Deputy Givens' murder. He committed suicide in the county jail several months later by slitting his own throat as his wife visited him.
Deputy Givens is buried in Middlesboro Cemetery, Middlesboro, Bell County, Kentucky.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Givens served with the Bell County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Pineville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Givens.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Bell County Sheriff's Department has lost 26 officers; 24 of them killed feloniously.
Gordon is one of 756 officers killed feloniously in KY, 76.8% of the 984 remembered there.
Gordon is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Gordon is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1910, 1 officer at Bell County Sheriff's Department was killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 20 years on record. The heaviest was 1902, with 2.
In 1910, 9 officers in KY were killed feloniously, the 23rd heaviest of 147 years on record. The heaviest was 1926, with 22.
In 1910, 121 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 43rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1910, 124 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 47th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Gordon was 23. Of the 20 killed feloniously at Bell County Sheriff's Department whose age is recorded, half were between 32.5 and 51.5; the middle age was 45.5.
Gordon was 23. Of the 669 killed feloniously in KY whose age is recorded, half were between 33 and 49; the middle age was 41.
Gordon was 23. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.
Gordon was 23. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
January holds 12.5% of these deaths at Bell County Sheriff's Department; September holds the most, 16.7%. Sundays: 25%.
January holds 6.2% of these deaths in KY; December holds the most, 11.5%. Sundays: 18.7%.
January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
January holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 92.3% of all 26 deaths at Bell County Sheriff's Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 29.2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 76.8% of all 984 deaths in KY, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Bell County Sheriff's Department has 26 officers remembered here, Gordon among them.
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Joseph Manning Jul 14, 1901
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Charles Cecil Feb 17, 1902
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John Doyle Feb 17, 1902
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Richard W. Slusher Apr 11, 1902
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Tom Stewart Nov 1, 1903
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Gordon Givens Jan 30, 1910
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Oland Collins Oct 3, 1911
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Sam Collins Oct 3, 1911
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Edward Neece Nov 7, 1912
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John McCoy Jan 9, 1918
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Columbus Partin Sep 12, 1921
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Bill Atkins
Jun 22, 1923
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Jim Collins Jul 4, 1923
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Andy R. Baird May 4, 1924
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Philip Mark Daniels
Jun 17, 1927
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Elihu L. Simpson May 5, 1929
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Frank Bowman Aug 6, 1932
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Henry Adams Owens May 6, 1933
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James Henry Bowlin
Jul 28, 1940
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George Thomas Fisher Dec 17, 1940
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Sherd Barry Partin
Sep 30, 1944
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Lathe Warren Sep 18, 1952
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Harvey Crawford
Nov 14, 1953
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Franklin Eugene Jackson Sep 20, 1965
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Horace Hall, Jr.
Aug 14, 1980
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Anthony Pursifull
Jan 10, 2008
Where the Name Is Cut
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