James H. Bush
Agency patch
Deputy Constable

James H. Bush

Floyd County Constable's Office — Prestonsburg, KY
Felonious
End of Watch May 6, 1928
Age 27
The Vigil Panel 55 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Constable James Bush was shot and killed in Ligon while attempting to arrest a man at a dance hall after a shooting.

A man upset about having to pay to attend the dance opened fire, killing one of the organizers. Deputy Bush and another deputy attempted to arrest the man but were also shot. Deputy Bush was killed and the second deputy was wounded. Four other men were killed and four wounded during the ensuing shooting between family members of the suspect and first victim.

Deputy Constable was survived by his wife, daughter, parents, and two siblings.

Survivors

Deputy Constable was survived by his wife, daughter, parents, and two siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-B36DE225
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
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 Constable Bush served with the Floyd County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Prestonburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Constable Bush.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Prestonsburg, KY
Platform Identity fcco.floyd.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 6, 1928
Age 27
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Deputy Constable James H. Bush 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 Floyd County Constable's Office, 11 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Floyd County Constable's Office
11
of 11 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. James H. Bush's cause is highlighted.

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

How James H. Bush Compares

Age at Death
27
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James H. Bush is highlighted in May.

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. James H. Bush was killed by gun; unknown type.

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

Incident Location