Roll of Honor
Harold Lewis Catron, Sr.
Incident
Chief of Police Harold Catron succumbed to wounds received from a shotgun blast on April 11, 1957. Chief Catron was ambushed in front of his house on Jasper Street by a vehicle driving by, spraying his yard with shotgun pellets. He was struck in the back, and one of the bullets collapsed a lung. His son, age 11, was grazed by one of the bullets. Three men were arrested. Two were not charged. One of the suspects committed suicide before his trial. One of the pellets was unable to be removed. Seven years later, the bullet slipped and pierced his heart. He died instantly. Chief Catron was a United States Army Air Forces WWII veteran and had served with the Somerset Police Department for 14 years. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters. One of his sons, Sheriff Sam Catron, was shot and killed in a political assassination on April 13, 2002, while serving as sheriff of Pulaski County, Kentucky.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-2AA38454- 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.
Chief of Police Catron gave the Somerset Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Somerset community, 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
Harold Lewis Catron, Sr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Chief of Police Harold Lewis Catron, Sr. 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 Somerset Police Department, 3 of 3 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. Harold Lewis Catron, Sr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Harold Lewis Catron, Sr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Harold Lewis Catron, Sr. is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Harold Lewis Catron, Sr. was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Somerset Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
