Robert Hensley

Owsley County Sheriff's Office — Booneville, KY

Felonious

End of Watch March 27, 1954

The Vigil Panel 90 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Deputy Hensley and Sheriff Clarence Taylor were shot and killed while investigating a truck that was stuck in a ditch on the side of a roadway. One of three men inside the vehicle, all who had been drinking, opened fire killing both. All three were apprehended.

All three, two a father and son, were tried and acquitted four years later.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-27C03B9E
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 Hensley served with the Owsley County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Booneville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Hensley.

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

Agency

Department Owsley County Sheriff's Office

Location Booneville, KY

Platform Identity ocso.owsley.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 27, 1954

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Acquitted

Deputy Sheriff Robert Hensley 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 Owsley County Sheriff'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.

Owsley County Sheriff'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