Roll of Honor
Incident
Trooper Joe Ward was struck and killed by a vehicle during foggy conditions while assisting at the scene of another accident on Pennyrile Parkway, half a mile from Hopkinsville. No charges were filed in connection with his death. Trooper Ward Was a United States Army Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Kentucky State Police for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents, brothers, and sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-1A828269- 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 Joe. 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
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.
Trooper Ward gave the Kentucky State Police 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Kentucky, 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
Joe Ward, Jr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Trooper Joe Ward, Jr. 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 KY State Police, 16 of 29 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 55.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joe Ward, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Joe Ward, Jr. Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Joe Ward, Jr. is highlighted in Apr.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
28 officers from KY State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
