Ambrose Wilson
Agency patch
Marshal

Ambrose Wilson

Sadieville Police Department — Sadieville, KY
Felonious
End of Watch October 15, 1883
The Vigil Panel 7 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Marshal Ambrose Wilson was shot and killed while attempting to break up a disturbance at a local saloon. He had taken one of the men outside and was attempting to persuade him to go home when the man produced a gun and opened fire, striking Marshal Wilson three times.

The marshal was taken inside the saloon where he died several minutes later. The suspect was arrested at his home later that night. The suspect was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 21 years.

Marshal Wilson was survived by his fiancee. He was killed the week prior to his wedding.

Survivors

Marshal Wilson was survived by his fiancee.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-22280DF9
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

143 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Marshal Wilson served with the Sadieville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Sadieville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location Sadieville, KY
Platform Identity spd.scott.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 15, 1883
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun
Offender Sentenced to 21 years

Marshal Ambrose Wilson 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%.

Sadieville Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
KY — Statewide
755
of 983 officers
76.8% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ambrose Wilson's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Ambrose Wilson Compares

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 21 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ambrose Wilson is highlighted in Oct.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ambrose Wilson was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518