Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Ruggless was shot and killed near Concord, Kentucky, while he and a posse attempted to apprehend one of two brothers who was wanted for stealing horses. The brothers were also part of a larger feud between two families that had left several members of each family dead over several years. When the Sheriff received word that the man had returned to Lewis County he immediately gathered a posse and went in search for him. When he located the man the suspect opened fire, striking Deputy Ruggless in the chest. The suspect was shot and wounded but was able to escape. He was eventually apprehended but acquitted after the trial was moved to another county. The man was eventually killed as part of the ongoing feud.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-D3F4DA77- 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
148 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Ruggless served with the Lewis County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Vanceburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff John Ruggless 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 Lewis County Sheriff's Department, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Ruggless's cause is highlighted.
How John Ruggless Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Ruggless is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Lewis County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
