Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief Jerry Lee succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained ten days earlier when he responded to a disturbance at the Frankfort Hotel. He was shot moments later when he responded to a second disturbance call between two citizens at the location.
The man who shot him was arrested and charged with murder but acquitted.
On November 2, 1897, the same man shot and killed Deputy Tes Deakins of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. Deputy Deakins was attempting to arrest him for shooting another man earlier in the day.
Chief Lee had served with the Frankfort Police Department for at least 11 years. He was survived by his wife and three children. He was preceded in death by four children.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-234A6BAB- 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
144 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Chief of Police Lee gave the Frankfort Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Frankfort community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Jeremiah "Jerry" Lee 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 Frankfort Police Department, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jeremiah "Jerry" Lee's cause is highlighted.
How Jeremiah "Jerry" Lee Compares
Offender Outcome
Charged with murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jeremiah "Jerry" Lee is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jeremiah "Jerry" Lee was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Frankfort Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
