Frank H. Wilke
Agency patch
Patrolman

Frank H. Wilke

Louisville Police Department — Louisville, KY
Felonious
End of Watch March 25, 1928
Age 26
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo
The Vigil Panel 55 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Frank Wilke was shot and killed after he and his partner spotted a stolen vehicle. Patrolman Wilke and his partner approached the vehicle at the corner of 8th street and Oldham Street. As the Officers were questioning the occupants of the vehicle, a 25-year-old suspect, pulled a pistol that was concealed in the back of the seat. He fired once striking Patrolman Wilke in the neck, killing him. Patrolman Wilkie's partner fired on the suspect, killing him before he could fire another shot. Patrolman Wilke had been with the Louisville Police Department for 18 months.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-FA4A77A9
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

You barely got started.
Patrolman Wilke gave the Louisville Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Louisville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Wilke.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Louisville, Jefferson County, KY
Platform Identity lpd.jefferson.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 25, 1928
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo
Age 26
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Patrolman Frank H. Wilke 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 Louisville Police Department, 51 of 91 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 56% of this agency's fallen.

Louisville Police Department
51
of 91 officers
56% Felonious
KY — Statewide
755
of 983 officers
76.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Frank H. Wilke's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Frank H. Wilke Compares

Age at Death
26
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
1.5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Frank H. Wilke is highlighted in Mar.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Frank H. Wilke was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location