Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Bob Wright was shot and killed as he, a prohibition officer, and several other deputies served a search a warrant at a boarding house in Burdine.
The officers arrived at the house shortly after midnight and announced that they had a warrant. The occupants refused to let them enter and demanded they leave. After several minutes the officers entered the first level of the home while the occupants remained on the top level.
Upon finding several containers of wine the prohibition officer and Deputy Wright started to go up the stairs to arrest the occupants. As they did so one of the men opened fire, striking Deputy Wright.
He was taken to a local hospital where he died approximately 30 minutes later. The subject who shot Deputy Wright was arrested without further incident.
Deputy Wright had served with the Letcher County Sheriff's Office for only two months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-8676F7A7- 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 Sheriff Wright served with the Letcher County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Whitesburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Wright.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff James Robert "Bob" Wright 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 Letcher County Sheriff's Office, 16 of 19 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 84.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Robert "Bob" Wright's cause is highlighted.
How James Robert "Bob" Wright Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Robert "Bob" Wright is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
18 officers from Letcher County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
