William Thomas "Tom" Pendergrass

Owsley County Sheriff's Office — Booneville, KY

Felonious

End of Watch July 10, 1940

Age 57

The Vigil Panel 77 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Tom Pendergrass was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man for causing a disturbance near New Hope.

The suspect immediately opened fire on Deputy Pendergrass as he stepped from his car, striking him in the chest with a shot from a .22 caliber. Despite being mortally wounded, Deputy Pendergrass returned fire, fatally striking the suspect.

Deputy Pendergrass attempted to drive himself to seek help but succumbed to the wound approximately two miles away.

Deputy Pendergrass was survived by his wife, four sons, four daughters, and two brothers. One of his brothers served as a detective with the Detroit, Michigan, Police Department.

Survivors

Deputy Pendergrass was survived by his wife, four sons, four daughters, and two brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-3E1E87DB
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 Pendergrass 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 Pendergrass.

— 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 July 10, 1940

Age 57

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Rifle; .22 caliber

Offender Shot and killed

Deputy Sheriff William Thomas "Tom" Pendergrass 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