Wilson Deaton
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Wilson Deaton

Felonious
End of Watch March 16, 1940
The Vigil Panel 76 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Wilson Deaton was shot and killed while attempting to stop a fight between four men. One of the suspects involved in the fight was convicted of his murder and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Deputy Deaton was survived by his wife and nine children.

Survivors

Deputy Deaton was survived by his wife and nine children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-A9DCA7E7
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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Deaton served with the Breathitt County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Jackson community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Deaton.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Jackson, KY
Platform Identity bcso.mercer.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 16, 1940
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Deputy Sheriff Wilson Deaton 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 Breathitt County Sheriff's Office, 9 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 90% of this agency's fallen.

Breathitt County Sheriff's Office
9
of 10 officers
90% Felonious
KY — Statewide
755
of 983 officers
76.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Wilson Deaton's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Wilson Deaton Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Wilson Deaton is highlighted in Mar.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Wilson Deaton was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909