Roll of Honor

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Deputy Jailer

Edward O'Bannon

Hopkins County Jail — Madisonville, KY

Felonious

End of Watch April 26, 1911

Age 56

The Vigil Panel 25 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Deputy Jailer Edward O'Banon succumbed to a head injury sustained the previous day when an inmate attacked him with a shovel during an escape attempt in Madisonville.

The inmate had been in jail for one day after having been arrested for bootlegging. He had been taken out of the jail as part of a chain gang when he attacked Deputy Jailer O'Banon.

The 27-year-old man pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life in prison.

Deputy Jailer O'Banon was survived by his wife.

Survivors

Deputy Jailer O'Banon was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-F990EEDE
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Jailer O'Bannon served with the Hopkins County Jail.
Thank you for your service to the Madisonville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Jailer O'Bannon.

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

Agency

Department Hopkins County Jail

Location Madisonville, KY

Platform Identity hcjcorr.hopkins.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 26, 1911

Age 56

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Assault

Weapon Blunt object; Shovel

Offender Sentenced to life

Deputy Jailer Edward O'Bannon is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 22.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Hopkins County Jail

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Edward O'Bannon's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Edward O'Bannon Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to life

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Edward O'Bannon is highlighted in Apr.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Edward O'Bannon was killed by blunt object; shovel.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518