Matthew Collins

Letcher County Constable's Office — Whitesburg, KY

Felonious

End of Watch September 19, 1948

Age 58

The Vigil Panel 84 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Constable Matthew Collins was shot and killed while coming to the aid of a deputy who was attempting to arrest a drunk man outside of a roadhouse in Isom.

Two brothers, 24 and 26, were causing a disturbance and were intoxicated. A deputy was attempting to arrest one of the men when the brother jumped him. The two subjects had the deputy on the ground and were beating him when Constable Collins started across the street to come to the deputy's aid. One of the brothers grabbed the deputy's pistol and fired two shots at Constable Collins. He was transported to Jenkins hospital, where he succumbed to his chest wound.

One subject was immediately arrested, and the other was apprehended a few weeks later. One brother was tried and acquitted on January 21, 1949. On the same day, his brother's case was continued to a date in April. He was also acquitted.

He was survived by his wife and brother, who became Constable after his death.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and brother, who became Constable after his death.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-E3E5F121
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.
Constable Collins served with the Letcher County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Whitesburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Collins.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Letcher County Constable's Office

Location Whitesburg, KY

Platform Identity lcco.letcher.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 19, 1948

Age 58

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun; .44 caliber

Offender Arrested

Constable Matthew Collins 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 Letcher County Constable's Office, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.

Letcher County Constable's Office

of 5 officers

80% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious