Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Cecil Cyrus was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a suspect who had escaped during a rape trial. The suspect attempted to commit suicide after murdering Sheriff Cyrus. He was convicted of capital murder in connection with Sheriff Cyrus' murder. Sheriff Cyrus had served with the agency for 12 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-F0FA5C59- 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. Cecil is one person.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sheriff Cyrus gave the Johnson County Sheriff's Office 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Paintsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Cyrus.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Cecil E. Cyrus served in the U.S. Army (1956â1959) before joining law enforcement.
Sheriff Cecil E. Cyrus 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 Johnson County Sheriff's Office, 6 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Cecil E. Cyrus's cause is highlighted.
How Cecil E. Cyrus Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Cecil E. Cyrus is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Cecil E. Cyrus was killed by gun.
Military Service
Cecil E. Cyrus served in the U.S. Army (1956–1959) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Cecil E. Cyrus’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Johnson County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
