Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Buck Forehand was shot and killed as he and a deputy attempted to arrest a suspect wanted for attempted murder. The suspect was arrested three days later and taken to the Gadsden County Jail. He was convicted of Sheriff Forehand's murder, sentenced to death, and executed. Sheriff Forehand had served with the Liberty County Sheriff's Department for 20 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five young children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-B6EC345B- 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
20 years. You could have gone home.
Sheriff Forehand gave the Liberty County Sheriff's Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Bristol community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Forehand.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Jay Lemeul Forehand 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 FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 53.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Liberty County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jay Lemeul Forehand's cause is highlighted.
How Jay Lemeul Forehand Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jay Lemeul Forehand is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jay Lemeul Forehand was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Liberty County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
