Roll of Honor
Incident
City Marshal John Coomer succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained six weeks earlier when he was shot in the back of the neck after arresting a drunk man at the railroad station.
The man, a friend of Marshal Coomer, had arrived on a train drunk and was taken by the marshal to the city jail to sober up. As they walked into the jail, the suspect produced a small-caliber handgun and shot the marshal.
The man fled the scene and was pursued by a posse. As he attempted to cross the river, he exchanged shots with the posse, killing one of the members. He was able to escape but was eventually apprehended. He was convicted of killing the posse member and sentenced to five years in prison but was not charged with murdering Marshal Coomer as the result of a request the marshal made on his deathbed.
Marshal Coomer had served as city marshal for 18 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and eight children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-20855C0F- 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.
City Marshal Coomer gave the Burnside Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Burnside community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, City Marshal Coomer.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
City Marshal John C. Coomer 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 Burnside Police Department, 4 of 4 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. John C. Coomer's cause is highlighted.
How John C. Coomer Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 5 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John C. Coomer is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John C. Coomer was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Burnside Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
