Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Sheriff

Jay Lemeul "Buck" Forehand

Liberty County Sheriff's Department — Bristol, FL

Felonious

End of Watch August 29, 1919

Age 44

Tour of Duty 20 yrs

The Vigil Panel 37 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Sheriff Buck Forehand was shot and killed as he and a deputy attempted to arrest a suspect wanted for attempted murder. The suspect was arrested three days later and taken to the Gadsden County Jail. He was convicted of Sheriff Forehand's murder, sentenced to death, and executed. Sheriff Forehand had served with the Liberty County Sheriff's Department for 20 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and five young children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FL-B6EC345B
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Jay. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

20 years. You could have gone home.
Sheriff Forehand gave the Liberty County Sheriff's Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Bristol community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Forehand.

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

Agency

Department Liberty County Sheriff's Department

Location Bristol, FL

Platform Identity lcso.liberty.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 29, 1919

Tour of Duty 20 yrs

Age 44

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Executed

Sheriff Jay Lemeul "Buck" Forehand 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 FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Liberty County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Liberty County Sheriff's Department

of 2 officers

100% Felonious

FL — Statewide

539

of 1,008 officers

53.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jay Lemeul "Buck" Forehand's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Jay Lemeul "Buck" Forehand Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Executed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jay Lemeul "Buck" Forehand is highlighted in Aug.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jay Lemeul "Buck" Forehand was killed by shotgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Liberty County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.