James Lane

Ashland Police Department — Ashland, KY

Felonious

End of Watch October 8, 1937

Age 36

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

The Vigil Panel 73 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Patrolman Lane was shot and killed after receiving a tip that a robbery suspect was at that location. Patrolman Lane and another officer had arrested five suspects in connection to a robbery earlier. When the tip came in that another suspect had returned to the boarding house, Patrolman Lane and his partner went to arrest the suspect. The partner stayed outside while Patrolman Lane went inside. While placing the suspect under arrest, the suspect hit him, knocked him across the bed, and shot him. Patrolman Lane pulled out his gun and returned fire. Both died at the scene. Patrolman Lane had served with the Ashland Police Department for 12 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-D5EE0D50
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.
Patrolman Lane gave the Ashland Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Ashland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Lane.

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

Agency

Department Ashland Police Department

Location Ashland, KY

Platform Identity apd.boyd.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 8, 1937

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Patrolman James Lane 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 Ashland Police Department, 6 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Ashland Police Department

of 6 officers

100% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious