Alvin Lee Keown

Jefferson County Police Department — Louisville, KY

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch November 8, 1952

Age 34

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 3 mo

The Vigil Panel 88 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 19

Incident

Patrolman Alvin Keown was shot and killed when he responded to a gun call at a tavern located at Seventh and Arcade in Louisville. The suspect was fleeing out of the back door when he confronted Patrolman Keown and shot him. The suspect was later apprehended and executed in 1955. Patrolman Keown was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII and the recipient of a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He had served with the Jefferson County Police Department for 16 months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and child.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-BED7BB75
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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Alvin is one person.

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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.
Patrolman Keown gave the Jefferson County Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Louisville community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Jefferson County Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Louisville, KY

Platform Identity jcpd.jefferson.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 8, 1952

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 3 mo

Age 34

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Military Service

Alvin Lee Keown served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Alvin Lee Keown is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 76.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Jefferson County Police Department, 5 of 20 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.

Jefferson County Police Department

of 20 officers

25% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious