Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Rufus Barrow was shot and killed with his own service weapon when he responded to a disturbance call involving a mentally ill man refusing to be taken back to a mental hospital.
The 24-year-old subject was able to gain control of Chief Barrows' revolver and fatally shot him.
The suspect was charged with murder, adjudged insane, and returned to the mental hospital. In 1964 he had a sanity hearing and was still adjudged to be insane. He died in Glasgow State Mental Hospital on February 8, 1986.
Chief Barrow had served with the Adairville Police Department for eight years and previously served with the Franklin Police Department and Simpson County Sheriff's Office.
He is buried at Greenlawn and Shady Rest Cemetery in Franklin, Simpson County, Kentucky.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-A4350531- 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.
Chief of Police Barrow gave the Adairville Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Adairville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Barrow.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Rufus Barrow 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 Adairville Police Department, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Rufus Barrow's cause is highlighted.
How Rufus Barrow Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Rufus Barrow is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Adairville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
