Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Earl Bertram succumbed to injuries sustained five years earlier when he was involved in an automobile crash while responding to a burglary call. Another vehicle pulled into the patrol car's path at the intersection of Dixie Highway and Watson Lane, causing a collision. Patrolman Bertram remained in a coma until passing away five years later. Patrolman Bertram was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII and had served with the Jefferson County Police Department for 10 years at the time of the crash. While in the Navy he was an undefeated heavyweight boxer in the Golden Glove competition with a 12-0 record.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-0F9938AF- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Bertram gave the Jefferson County Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Louisville community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Earl J. Bertram served in the Navy (1945â1947) before joining law enforcement.
Patrolman Earl J. Bertram is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In KY, 161 of 983 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 16.4% of this state's fallen. That is 14.6 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Jefferson County Police Department, 15 of 20 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Earl J. Bertram's cause is highlighted.
How Earl J. Bertram Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Earl J. Bertram is highlighted in Aug.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
19 officers from Jefferson County Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
