Neil Christian

Harlan County Sheriff's Office — Harlan, KY

Felonious

End of Watch July 6, 1912

Age 36

The Vigil Panel 26 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 35

Incident

Deputy Neil Christian succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained two days earlier when he was shot by a man seeking revenge against the deputy.

The suspect's brother had been shot and killed by Deputy Christian the previous month as he attempted to arrest him. The brother shot Deputy Christian in the same store in which his brother had been killed. The suspect was never held accountable for Deputy Christian's murder.

Deputy Christian was taken to the hospital in Pineville where he remained until succumbing to his wound two days later.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-C5E71B4C
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.
Deputy Sheriff Christian served with the Harlan County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Harlan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Christian.

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

Agency

Department Harlan County Sheriff's Office

Location Harlan, KY

Platform Identity hcso.harlan.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 6, 1912

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun; .45 caliber

Offender Apprehended

Deputy Sheriff Neil Christian 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 Harlan County Sheriff's Office, 36 of 36 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Harlan County Sheriff's Office

of 36 officers

100% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious