Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Cloyd Charlton was shot and killed by a man whom he had issued a traffic ticket several days earlier following an accident. The man had been ticketed for driving without a Kentucky operator's license. After being ticketed, the man threatened Chief Charlton's life. Several days later, Chief Charlton observed the man driving again and attempted to stop him. The man refused to stop and was chased to his farm. As Chief Charlton exited his patrol car, the suspect fired at him, fatally wounding him. The man then shot him again with a different gun and shot his patrol car with a shotgun. The man was taken into custody after his wife called the county sheriff to report the incident. The 52-year-old farmer was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to one year. Chief Charlton had served as the only Adairville Police Department's policeman for 11 months and had previously served with the Gallatin Police Department in Tennessee.
Survivors
He was survived by four daughters, his mother, and a brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-9E34849F- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Charlton gave the Adairville Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Adairville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Charlton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Cloyd Aubrine Charlton is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,587 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 22.9 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.
At Adairville 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Cloyd Aubrine Charlton's cause is highlighted.
How Cloyd Aubrine Charlton Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Cloyd Aubrine Charlton is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Cloyd Aubrine Charlton was killed by rifle.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Adairville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
