Fred B. Mason
Agency patch
Sheriff

Fred B. Mason

Felonious
End of Watch August 3, 1936
Age 44
The Vigil Panel 72 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sheriff Mason was shot and killed by a former prisoner as he and a deputy attempted to break up a disturbance at a church meeting. Sheriff Mason and his deputy returned fire killing the suspect. The suspect had recently been paroled after serving a sentence for a murder he committed in 1921.

Survivors

Sheriff Mason was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-509E9B2D
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Fred. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sheriff Mason served with the Laurel County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the London community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Mason.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location London, Laurel County, KY
Platform Identity lcso.laurel.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 3, 1936
Age 44
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Sheriff Fred B. Mason 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 Laurel County Sheriff's Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Laurel County Sheriff's Department
4
of 4 officers
100% 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. Fred B. Mason's cause is highlighted.

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

How Fred B. Mason Compares

Age at Death
44
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Fred B. Mason is highlighted in Aug.

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. Fred B. Mason was killed by gun.

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