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Constable

Elmer Doane

Laurel County Constable's Office — London, KY

Felonious

End of Watch April 25, 1940

Age 40

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 76 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Constable Elmer Doane was shot and killed while attempting to question a man who was carrying two pistols two miles north of East Bernstadt.

As the one-armed constable walked up to the couple the man took cover behind his wife and told her to shoot. She opened fire, fatally wounding Constable Doane. Both were arrested and charged with manslaughter after claiming they thought Constable Doane was attempting to hold them up. A magistrate and a deputy constable who had been following behind Cosntable Doane witnessed his murder.

Constable Doane had served as the elected constable of the Fourth District for two years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, five children, mother, and three siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-E9BDFF82
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.
Constable Doane gave the Laurel County Constable's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the London community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Doane.

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

Agency

Department Laurel County Constable's Office

Location London, KY

Platform Identity lcco.laurel.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 25, 1940

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 40

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Charged with manslaughter

Constable Elmer Doane 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%.

At Laurel County Constable's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Laurel County Constable's Office

of 2 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. Elmer Doane'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 Elmer Doane Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Charged with manslaughter

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Elmer Doane 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. Elmer Doane was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Laurel County Constable's Office are honored on badge.nw.