Roll of Honor

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Town Marshal

John A. Collins

Berea Police Department — Berea, KY

Felonious

End of Watch August 23, 1914

Age 34

The Vigil Panel 29 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Town Marshal John Collins was shot and killed as he and a county constable searched for several men suspected of stealing chickens.

They had approached a family that included a father and three sons after learning they were nearby. As the officers stopped their buggy they were immediately fired upon. Marshal Collins was struck in the head by a shotgun blast and the constable was struck in the leg.

The family fled the scene. The father and all three sons were arrested a short time later. Two of the sons were convicted of manslaughter. One was sentenced to 21 years and the other to seven years in prison.

Marshal Collins was survived by his wife.

Survivors

Marshal Collins was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-AB412475
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.
Town Marshal Collins served with the Berea Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Berea community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Town Marshal Collins.

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

Agency

Department Berea Police Department

Location Berea, KY

Platform Identity bpd.madison.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 23, 1914

Age 34

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Town Marshal John A. Collins 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%.

Berea Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John A. Collins's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How John A. Collins Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John A. Collins is highlighted in Aug.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518