Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Fred Barton was accidentally shot and killed by another officer attempting to clear his jammed firearm at the Jefferson County Armory at 4:10 pm. The officers were at the firing range when a sergeant's gun failed to fire. The Sergeant went to the locker room where sixteen other recruit officers, including Patrolman Barton, were waiting their turn on the firing line. The Sergeant was dismantling his gun to remove the cartridge, which failed to fire. While doing this, the cartridge fired, and the bullet struck Patrolman Barton. He died at City Hospital from a bullet wound to the left side in front and below his left armpit. Patrolman Barton was a United States Navy veteran who had served with the Louisville Police Department for only 19 days and was in the middle of his academy training.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two sons, a daughter, mother, brother, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-1A13F62A- 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 Barton served with the Louisville Police Department.
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
Frederick Strother Barton served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman Frederick Strother Barton 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 Louisville Police Department, 34 of 91 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 37.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Frederick Strother Barton's cause is highlighted.
How Frederick Strother Barton Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Frederick Strother Barton is highlighted in Aug.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
90 officers from Louisville Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
