Regina Woodward Nickles
Patrolwoman

Regina Woodward Nickles

Harrodsburg Police Department — Harrodsburg, KY
Felonious
End of Watch October 14, 1998
Age 45
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Badge 184
The Vigil Panel 145 ›
Gender Female

Incident

Patrolwoman Regina Nickles was shot and killed while investigating a suspicious person in the parking lot of an automotive factory at 1120 Industry Road. She and her partner were approaching the suspect when he turned and fired at them. Patrolwoman Nickles was struck twice in the neck, killing her instantly. Other officers on the scene were able to return fire, severely wounding the suspect. Patrolwoman Nickles was the department's only female police officer and was running for sheriff of Mercer County. She is survived by her two children. In October 2015, U.S. Route 127 between Anderson County and Harrodsburg was renamed Officer Regina Nickles Memorial Highway.

Survivors

She is survived by her two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-0FB50824
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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolwoman Nickles gave the Harrodsburg Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Harrodsburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolwoman Nickles.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Harrodsburg, Mercer County, KY
Platform Identity hpd.mercer.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 14, 1998
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Age 45
Badge Number 184
Gender Female

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Patrolwoman Regina Woodward Nickles 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 Harrodsburg Police Department, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Harrodsburg Police Department
2
of 4 officers
50% Felonious
KY — Statewide
755
of 983 officers
76.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Regina Woodward Nickles's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Regina Woodward Nickles Compares

Age at Death
45
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
15
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Regina Woodward Nickles is highlighted in Oct.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Regina Woodward Nickles was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location