Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Jerry Cornett succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained three two weeks earlier while attempting to arrest several men for possessing moonshine on April 3rd, 1920.
Deputy Cornett and several other deputies were checking the Fourseam Block Colliery Company mine camp on Buffalo Creek, three miles from Hazard when they encountered the group. A shootout ensued when the posse attempted to place the men under arrest.
Two of the subjects, Deputy Cornett, and a second deputy were wounded. Deputy Cornett was taken to the hospital in Hazard where he died on April 20th, 1920.
Both suspects were charged with murder. One was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. In 1923 the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled that he should have been charged with manslaughter and ordered a new trial which the result of is unknown.
Deputy Cornett was a veteran of WWI. He was survived by his wife.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-1B796420- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Cornett served with the Perry County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Hazard community. Thank you 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
Jerry Cornett served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy Sheriff Jerry Cornett 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 Perry County Sheriff's Office, 19 of 19 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jerry Cornett's cause is highlighted.
How Jerry Cornett Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and wounded
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jerry Cornett is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jerry Cornett was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
18 officers from Perry County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
