James W. Hogue
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

James W. Hogue

McCreary County Sheriff's Office — Whitley City, KY
Felonious
End of Watch November 5, 1931
Age 41
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 63 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Hogue was shot and killed after making an arrest while raiding a liquor still with two other deputies. The man they arrested was granted permission to go into his home to obtain some tobacco. When Deputy Hogue escorted the man inside the man's son emerged from another room and opened fire with a shotgun, killing the deputy.

The 18-year-old suspect was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 21 years in prison.

Deputy Hogue had served with the agency for 2 years.

Survivors

He was a widower and was survived by his eight children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-E36D000D
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 Sheriff Hogue gave the McCreary County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Whitley City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Hogue.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Whitley City, McCreary County, KY
Platform Identity mcso.mccreary.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 5, 1931
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 41
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Shotgun

Deputy Sheriff James W. Hogue 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 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
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James W. Hogue's cause is highlighted.

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

How James W. Hogue Compares

Age at Death
41
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James W. Hogue is highlighted in Nov.

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 W. Hogue was killed by shotgun.

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