Roll of Honor
Incident
Jailer Lucas was shot and killed while attempting to protect to the jail from a mob of over 200 citizens who were trying to remove an inmate to hang him. As some of the residents began to assault Jailer Lucas he opened fire with his revolver, killing two citizens. Other citizens in the mob opened fire on Jailer Lucas, killing him, before removing the prisoner and killing him as well. Jailer Lucas was survived by his wife and six children. He was a Confederate Civil War Veteran who served as a private with Major John Mosby's Rangers. On November 21, 1863, he was captured near Culpepper, Virginia, and sent to prison at Point Lookout, Maryland.
Survivors
Jailer Lucas was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-10E9CB91- 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.
Jailer Lucas served with the Daviess County Detention Center.
Thank you for your service to the Owensboro 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
William J. Lucas served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Jailer William J. Lucas 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William J. Lucas's cause is highlighted.
How William J. Lucas Compares
Offender Outcome
Two shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William J. Lucas is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William J. Lucas was killed by gun; unknown type.