Charles Lacey

Cynthiana Police Department — Cynthiana, KY

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch December 27, 1896

Age 24

The Vigil Panel 14 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 3

Incident

Officer Charles Lacey succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on Christmas Eve while attempting to arrest a drunk subject.

The man was able to break away from ran down an alley. As Officer Lacey chased him the man turned and shot him in the leg. Despite the wound, Officer Lacey was able to catch him and struck him with his club. During the ensuing struggle the subject shot Officer Lacey in the abdomen. The man then fled as Officer Lacey fired at him.

Officer Lacey succumbed to his wounds three days later.

The 16-year-old subject who shot him was arrested, tried for murder, and acquitted.

Officer Lacey was also a member of the Cynthiana Volunteer Fire Department and the Kentucky State Guard.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-FF142590
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.
Officer Lacey served with the Cynthiana Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Cynthiana community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Cynthiana Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Cynthiana, Harrison County, KY

Platform Identity cpd.harrison.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 27, 1896

Age 24

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Military Service

Charles Lacey served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Officer Charles Lacey 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 Cynthiana Police Department, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Cynthiana Police Department

of 4 officers

75% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious