Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Richard Hunter was shot and killed as he and a deputy attempted to arrest a man for cutting his wife's throat.
As the officers entered the home, the man opened fire with a 12-gauge shotgun, fatally wounding the sheriff.
The man fled the home but was later apprehended and charged with murder. He was executed in the electric chair on January 31, 1921.
Sheriff Hunter was survived by his wife.
Survivors
Sheriff Hunter was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-EEB0E834- 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.
Sheriff Hunter served with the Hopkins County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Madisonville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Hunter.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Richard Scott Hunter 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 Hopkins County Sheriff's Office, 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. Richard Scott Hunter's cause is highlighted.
How Richard Scott Hunter Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Scott Hunter is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard Scott Hunter was killed by shotgun; 12 gauge.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Hopkins County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
