Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman John Fow succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained the previous day when he was responding to a call of boys throwing rocks at wagons as they passed a grocery store in the 1400 block of Bland Street. When Patrolman Fow arrived, he entered the grocery store to investigate and was shot and killed by the father of one of the boys that had been throwing the rocks. The suspect who was wounded by Patrolman was taken to a doctor's office to get his wounds dressed when he escaped through a window by using a piano. In June 1927, the suspect was identified by two Louisville Police Department Homicide Detectives through mugshots after he was arrested by police in Birmingham, Alabama. The suspect was extricated back to Louisville to stand trial. The suspect turned out not to be the killer. Another suspect arrested in Bowling Green in 1931 also turned out to be the wrong man. Patrolman Fow had served with the Louisville Police Department for six years.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-D2877BD0- 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.
Patrolman Fow gave the Louisville Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Louisville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Fow.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman John George Fow 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 Louisville Police Department, 51 of 91 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 56% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John George Fow's cause is highlighted.
How John George Fow Compares
Offender Outcome
At large
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John George Fow is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John George Fow was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
90 officers from Louisville Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
