Ira Gibson

Bell County Constable's Office — Pineville, KY

Felonious

End of Watch June 18, 1925

Age 40

The Vigil Panel 49 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Deputy Constable Ira Gibson was shot and killed as he and another deputy constable were searching a wooded, mountainous area near Edgewood for two suspects.

The suspects opened fire in the darkness, shooting both deputies in their backs. Deputy Gibson was killed instantly. The other deputy was slightly wounded and was able to return to town to seek help.

One suspect was arrested and acquitted. The second man fled the area but was arrested in Tennessee 12 years later. He was returned to Bell County in 1937 where he was tried and also acquitted.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-977B8C1D
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 Constable Gibson served with the Bell County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Pineville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Constable Gibson.

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

Agency

Department Bell County Constable's Office

Location Pineville, KY

Platform Identity bcco.bell.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 18, 1925

Age 40

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Acquitted

Deputy Constable Ira Gibson 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 Bell County Constable's Office, 5 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Bell County Constable's Office

of 5 officers

100% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious