Roll of Honor
Incident
Town Marshal Tom Roach was shot and killed while attempting to disarm a county deputy who had gotten into a personal argument with a store clerk.
The store's owner ordered the deputy to leave the store, before stepping outside himself. When the store owner left the deputy pulled out his gun and attempted to search the clerk. Marshal Roach, who was standing nearby, put himself between the two and as he attempted to take the gun away from the deputy he was shot in the abdomen.
The deputy was arrested and charged with murder.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-082A92FA- 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
128 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Town Marshal Roach served with the Barbourville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Barbourville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Town Marshal Tom Roach 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 Barbourville Police Department, 5 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Tom Roach's cause is highlighted.
How Tom Roach Compares
Offender Outcome
Charged with murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Tom Roach is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Tom Roach was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Barbourville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
