Roll of Honor

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Patrolman

Clarence Lee Meenach

Russell Police Department — Russell, KY

Felonious

End of Watch May 11, 1950

Age 58

Tour of Duty 5 mo

The Vigil Panel 86 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Patrolman Clarence Meenach was shot and killed with his own service weapon while processing a prisoner. The prisoner, under the influence of drugs and alcohol, grabbed Patrolman Meenach's revolver and shot him in the head. The men then shot the police chief in the chest, but the bullet struck the chief's badge and did not produce a fatal wound. The suspect was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to six years in prison on June 24th, 1950.

Survivors

Patrolman Meenach was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-22D45FF7
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Meenach served with the Russell Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Russell community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Meenach.

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

Agency

Department Russell Police Department

Location Russell, KY

Platform Identity rpd.greenup.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 11, 1950

Tour of Duty 5 mo

Age 58

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Sentenced to 6 years

Patrolman Clarence Lee Meenach 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%.

Russell Police Department

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. Clarence Lee Meenach'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 Clarence Lee Meenach Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

0.4

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 6 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Clarence Lee Meenach is highlighted in May.

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. Clarence Lee Meenach was killed by officer's handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518