Roll of Honor

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Sheriff

Richard Scott Hunter

Hopkins County Sheriff's Office — Madisonville, KY

Felonious

End of Watch November 6, 1920

Age 38

The Vigil Panel 39 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

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: 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.
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

Department Hopkins County Sheriff's Office

Location Madisonville, KY

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

Service Record

End of Watch November 6, 1920

Age 38

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Shotgun; 12 gauge

Offender Executed in 1921

Sheriff Richard Scott Hunter 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 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.

Hopkins County Sheriff's Office

of 2 officers

100% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard Scott Hunter's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Richard Scott Hunter Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Executed in 1921

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Scott Hunter is highlighted in Nov.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard Scott Hunter was killed by shotgun; 12 gauge.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Hopkins County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.