Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff John McCoy was shot and killed while attempting to serve dispossession papers to evict a man from his home at the Arjay Mining Camp near Pineville.
At 8:00 a.m., Deputy McCoy arrived at the home to evict the man from the house owned by the Federal Coal Company. Not wanting to place the man's possessions in the snow, he walked around the house and noticed the man standing at the side of another building, pointing a rifle at him. He moved into the house. When he opened the door, the man shot him in the head, killing him instantly.
The suspect was arrested at the mine shortly afterward. He was charged with murder but was acquitted at trial the following month. A few years later, he served time in a federal penitentiary for another crime.
Deputy McCoy had served with the Bell County Sheriff's Department for 15 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-2030FBD6- 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.
Deputy Sheriff McCoy gave the Bell County Sheriff's Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Pineville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff McCoy.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff John McCoy 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%.
At Bell County Sheriff's Department, 24 of 26 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 92.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John McCoy's cause is highlighted.
How John McCoy Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John McCoy is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John McCoy was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
25 officers from Bell County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
