Grover Dewey Kennedy
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Grover Dewey Kennedy

McCreary County Sheriff's Office — Whitley City, KY
Felonious
End of Watch March 24, 1949
Age 50
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
The Vigil Panel 85 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Dewey Kennedy was shot and killed in an ambush while on patrol.

An occupant in a vehicle driving past his location opened fire on him, fatally wounding him. The suspects were never apprehended.

Deputy Kennedy had served with the McCreary County Sheriff's Office for 1 year.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and child.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-701F71ED
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.

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

You barely got started.
Deputy Sheriff Kennedy gave the McCreary County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Whitley City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Kennedy.

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

Agency

Location Whitley City, KY
Platform Identity mcso.mccreary.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 24, 1949
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Age 50
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Never apprehended

Deputy Sheriff Grover Dewey Kennedy 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 McCreary County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.

McCreary County Sheriff's Office
4
of 5 officers
80% 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. Grover Dewey Kennedy'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 Grover Dewey Kennedy Compares

Age at End of Watch
50
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
1
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Never apprehended

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Grover Dewey Kennedy is highlighted in Mar.

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. Grover Dewey Kennedy was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518