Beverly Gerome McCowan
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Beverly Gerome McCowan

Floyd County Sheriff's Office — Prestonsburg, KY
Felonious
End of Watch March 29, 1914
Age 34
The Vigil Panel 28 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Beverly McCowan was shot and killed while he and another deputy attempted to arrest two brothers for selling liquor at Wayland, Kentucky.

Deputy McCown's partner was wounded, and one of the brothers was killed in the shootout. The second brother was arrested and charged with conspiracy in connection with Deputy McCowan's murder.

Deputy McCowan was survived by his wife and several children.

Survivors

Deputy McCowan was survived by his wife and several children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-9945ABFE
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff McCowan served with the Floyd County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Prestonsburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff McCowan.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Prestonsburg, Floyd County, KY
Platform Identity fcso.floyd.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 29, 1914
Age 34
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Deputy Sheriff Beverly Gerome McCowan 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 97,772 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 Floyd County Sheriff's Office, 11 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 91.7% of this agency's fallen.

Floyd County Sheriff's Office
11
of 12 officers
91.7% Felonious
KY — Statewide
755
of 983 officers
76.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Beverly Gerome McCowan's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Beverly Gerome McCowan Compares

Age at Death
34
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Beverly Gerome McCowan is highlighted in Mar.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Beverly Gerome McCowan was killed by gun; unknown type.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location