Henderson Ramsey
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Henderson Ramsey

Felonious
End of Watch January 7, 1932
Age 48
The Vigil Panel 63 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Henderson Ramsey was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man for public drunkenness in the Path Fork area of Insull, Kentucky.

Deputy Ramsey had arrested the man's brother earlier in the evening and had delivered him to the justice of the peace, then returned to arrest the other brother. The man saw Deputy Ramsey approaching, drew his weapon and fatally shot him. The 19-year-old suspect was arrested a short time later. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to 15 years in the state reformatory.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-0E135BC8
Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Ramsey served with the Harlan County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Harlan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Ramsey.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Harlan, Harlan County, KY
Platform Identity hcso.harlan.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 7, 1932
Age 48
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

Deputy Sheriff Henderson Ramsey 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 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.

Harlan County Sheriff's Office
36
of 36 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. Henderson Ramsey's cause is highlighted.

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

How Henderson Ramsey Compares

Age at Death
48
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Henderson Ramsey is highlighted in Jan.

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. Henderson Ramsey 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