Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff William Reams was stabbed to death while breaking up a disturbance. Despite his wounds, he was able to ride home to his family before dying with his wife by his side.
Survivors
Deputy Reams was survived by his wife and seven children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-40196531- 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
172 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Reams served with the Laurel County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the London community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff William Harrison Reams 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 Laurel County Sheriff's Department, 4 of 4 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. William Harrison Reams's cause is highlighted.
How William Harrison Reams Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Harrison Reams is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Harrison Reams was killed by edged weapon.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Laurel County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
