Incident
Lieutenant Kevin Mainhart was shot and killed while conducting a traffic stop of a vehicle involved in a domestic disturbance.
He was responding to the domestic disturbance call when he encountered a vehicle connected to the call on Highway 27 and Slo Fork Road. During the course of the stop the subject fatally shot him. A passerby located his body and notified other deputies.
Additional units responded to the home of the original call and located two murder victims at the location. The subject surrendered to authorities after barricading himself in a nearby home for several hours.
The subject plead guilty to capital murder and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Lieutenant Mainhart was a U.S. Air Force veteran. He joined the Yell County Sheriff's Department after retiring from the West Memphis, Arkansas, Police Department.
He is survived by his wife, two sons, parents and brother.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, two sons, parents and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AR-44C050FC- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Lieutenant Mainhart gave the Yell County Sheriff's Department 25 years.
Thank you for your service to the Danville community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Kevin Clyde Mainhart served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Lieutenant Kevin Clyde Mainhart 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 AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 12.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Yell County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 2 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. Kevin Clyde Mainhart's cause is highlighted.
How Kevin Clyde Mainhart Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Kevin Clyde Mainhart is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Kevin Clyde Mainhart was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Yell County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
