Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Frank Minton was shot and killed from ambush in retaliation for an arrest he had attempted earlier in the evening in Cumberland, Kentucky.
He had attempted to arrest a man for acting disorderly at a dance hall. During the arrest attempt, Deputy Minton struck the man with a blackjack but the man escaped.
Deputy Minton was taking his lunch break in a restaurant on Main Street at 2:00 am. The subject saw him in the restaurant and opened fire without warning, fatally wounding him. He was taken to a hospital in Lynch where he died two hours later.
The man turned himself in to the Cumberland police chief.
Deputy Minton had served with the Harlan County Sheriff's Office for two years.
"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9
Chris Di Gerolamo Federal Air Marshal Service March 27th, 2020
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-KY-77A3827D- 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 Sheriff Minton gave the Harlan County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Harlan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Minton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Frank J. Minton 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 Harlan County Sheriff's Office, 36 of 36 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. Frank J. Minton's cause is highlighted.
How Frank J. Minton Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Frank J. Minton is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
35 officers from Harlan County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
