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Will Pace
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Will Pace

Harlan County Sheriff's Office — Harlan, KY
Felonious
United States flag Kentucky flag
End of Watch November 20, 1925
Age 41
The Vigil Panel 115 · Column 4 · Line 20 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Department 35

Incident

Deputy Will Pace was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a known bootlegger at Wilson-Berger, Kentucky.

The man had brought a load of moonshine into the town and boasted that he was going to bring another load in that night. Deputy Pace, overhearing the man, told him if he brought it he would be arrested.

When the man appeared at the foot of the mountain with the next load Deputy Pace attempted to arrest him. Deputy Pace and the suspect were both killed in the ensuing shootout.

Deputy Pace was survived by his wife. He is buried in Straight Creek Cemetery, Bell County, Kentucky.

Deputy Pace's brother, Deputy Harve Pace, was fatally wounded in the line of duty only two weeks later while also serving with the Harlan County Sheriff's Office. Deputy Harve Pace was shot on December 2, 1925, and died from his wounds on February 18, 1926.

Survivors

Deputy Pace was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
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August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Pace served with the Harlan County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Harlan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Pace.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Harlan County Sheriff's Office
Type Sheriff's Office
Location Harlan, Harlan County, KY
Platform Identity hcso.harlan.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 20, 1925
Age 41
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Will is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1925, 208 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 11th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Will was 41. 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.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Harlan County Sheriff's Office has 36 officers remembered here, Will among them.

Across the years

Deputy Sheriff Will Pace

Harlan County Sheriff's Office · End of Watch November 20, 1925

Where the Name Is Cut

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