Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Joseph Heffernan succumbed to a gunshot wound to the liver received two days earlier while attempting to arrest two burglars on 21st Street near Rowan Street. Patrolman Heffernan and his partner spotted two men who were getting ready to burglarized a business when both men shot at both officers. The suspect was shot and killed by police in Owensboro on October 9th, 1898. Patrolman Heffernan had been with the Louisville Police Department for four years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-932F0838- 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
128 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Heffernan gave the Louisville Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Louisville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Joseph J. Heffernan 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. Joseph J. Heffernan's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph J. Heffernan Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph J. Heffernan is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph J. Heffernan 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.
