Anthony "Sean" Pursifull

Bell County Sheriff's Department — Pineville, KY

Felonious

End of Watch January 10, 2008

Age 31

The Vigil Panel 156 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 25

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Sean Pursifull was killed when his parked patrol car was intentionally rammed by a suspect fleeing a Kentucky State Police trooper. The two juvenile suspects in the car had just stolen gas from a service station in Baxter and then fled down U.S. 119.

As the occupants fled from the state troopers, the driver crossed the center line and rammed Deputy Pursifull's patrol car, which was stopped near the county line as the pursuit entered Bell County. Deputy Pursifull and his canine partner, King, were both killed.

The two suspects were taken into custody and charged with murder and assault on a service animal. The driver of the vehicle later pleaded guilty to wanton murder. He was subsequently sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Deputy Pursifull is survived by his wife and two children.

Survivors

Deputy Pursifull is survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-EE7EAC58
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Pursifull 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 Pursifull.

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

Agency

Department Bell County Sheriff's Department

Location Pineville, KY

Platform Identity bcso.bell.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 10, 2008

Age 31

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Vehicular assault

Weapon Automobile

Offender Sentenced to 25 years

Deputy Sheriff Anthony "Sean" Pursifull is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 22.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Bell County Sheriff's Department, 24 of 26 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 92.3% of this agency's fallen.

Bell County Sheriff's Department

of 26 officers

92.3% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious