Jimmy Ray Tolson
Agency patch
Chief of Police

Jimmy Ray Tolson

Campton Police Department — Campton, KY
Felonious
End of Watch June 26, 1978
Age 23
Tour of Duty 8 mo
Badge Unit
The Vigil Panel 120 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief Jimmy Tolson was shot and killed by an 19-year-old youth as he sat in city hall. Chief Tolson was sitting at his desk talking with his brother and his girlfriend when the suspect fired a single shot from a parked car across the street. The bullet, fired through the window, struck Chief Tolson in the head killing him instantly. Chief Tolson's brother grabbed his brother's service revolver and fired six shots at the suspect as he fled in his car. When the car was found it had been hit twice. The suspect was later arrested at his home. He shot Chief Tolson in retaliation for arresting his brother earlier for being drunk and causing a disturbance. The suspect died in prison on January 24, 1994. Chief Tolson had previously served as a Wolfe County deputy sheriff.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-20065633
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.
Chief of Police Tolson served with the Campton Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Campton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Tolson.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Campton, KY
Platform Identity cpd.wolfe.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 26, 1978
Tour of Duty 8 mo
Age 23
Badge Number Unit
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

Chief of Police Jimmy Ray Tolson 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%.

Campton Police Department
1
of 1 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. Jimmy Ray Tolson's cause is highlighted.

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

How Jimmy Ray Tolson Compares

Age at Death
23
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0.7
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jimmy Ray Tolson is highlighted in Jun.

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. Jimmy Ray Tolson was killed by rifle.

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

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Campton Police Department are honored on badge.nw.