Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Hicks was shot and killed while serving an arrest warrant at 10:30 pm in the Kenvir Community in Harlan County. Earlier in the day, two brothers, one who was a minor, escaped from a deputy after a minor traffic accident involving disorderly conduct and drunken driving. Deputy Hicks and three other officers went to their home to serve warrants when the shooting broke out. In the aftermath of the shooting, the father and another brother were killed, a policeman was wounded, and Deputy Hicks was killed. One suspect was wounded in the leg. Two suspects were charged with murder. The trial outcome is unknown, but one suspect escaped prison in 1974 and was apprehended. He died in 1984.
Survivors
Deputy Hicks was survived by his wife, four daughters, and five sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-32C85B97- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Hicks served with the Harlan County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Harlan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Hicks.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Orie A. Hicks 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 Harlan County Sheriff's Office, 36 of 36 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. Orie A. Hicks's cause is highlighted.
How Orie A. Hicks Compares
Offender Outcome
Unknown
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Orie A. Hicks is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Orie A. Hicks was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
35 officers from Harlan County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
