Roll of Honor
Jack Elmer Kenford
Incident
Special Agent Jack Kenford was killed when an illegal still exploded as he and other agents were attempting to destroy it in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. The still had been constructed in a dugout approximately 30-feet above the bottom of a ravine. As the agents and an informant began to dismantle the still it suddenly exploded. The force of the explosion was directed toward the opening of the dugout and struck Agent Kenford, causing him to suffer severe burns over his entire upper body. The other agent, who was also injured, was able to get Agent Kenford to their car and then returned to the scene to assist the informant. In a confused state, Agent Kenford walked approximately one mile to a roadway where a passerby picked him up and took him to a hospital. He died at the hospital the next day. The other agent and informant recovered from their injuries.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-5D0B4D04- 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.
Special Agent Kenford served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Kenford.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Agent Jack Elmer Kenford is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In DC, 454 of 1,419 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Prohibition, 13 of 35 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 37.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jack Elmer Kenford's cause is highlighted.
How Jack Elmer Kenford Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Jack Elmer Kenford is highlighted in Jun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
34 officers from United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Prohibition are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
