Brandon Heath Thacker
Agency patch
Investigator

Brandon Heath Thacker

Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch April 16, 1998
Age 27
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Badge 36
The Vigil Panel 144 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Investigator Brandon Thacker was shot and killed as he was driving to an undercover assignment with three other agents on the Western Kentucky Parkway near Eddyville. All of the agents were in a caravan of separate vehicles, with Investigator Thacker in the last vehicle. He radioed to the other agents that a vehicle was driving erratically, then moments later radioed that he had been shot. The agent in front of him looked in her rearview mirror and saw his vehicle swerve and then turned around to help him. The other two agents chased the vehicle, which was driving erratically, and arrested the driver. The suspect was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being found guilty of manslaughter. Investigator Thacker was a United States Army Persian Gulf veteran and had served with the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for four years. He is survived by his wife, 18-month-old daughter, parents, and two brothers. He is buried in the Richmond Cemetary in Richmond, Madison County, Kentucky.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, 18-month-old daughter, parents, and two brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-AAF87392
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 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.
Investigator Thacker gave the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Frankfort 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

Type Federal Agency
Location Frankfort, KY
Platform Identity kdabcfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 16, 1998
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 27
Badge Number 36
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Brandon Heath Thacker served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Investigator Brandon Heath Thacker 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 Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
2
of 2 officers
100% Felonious
KY — Statewide
755
of 983 officers
76.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Brandon Heath Thacker's cause is highlighted.

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

How Brandon Heath Thacker Compares

Age at Death
27
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
4
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Brandon Heath Thacker is highlighted in Apr.

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. Brandon Heath Thacker was killed by handgun.

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

Incident Location

Military Service

Brandon Heath Thacker served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.

Visit Brandon Heath Thacker’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control are honored on badge.nw.