Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Tom Stewart was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man at Four Mile. The man, who had previously been arrested by Deputy Stewart, fired a shot into the ground then warned the deputy he would be killed if he attempted to arrest him again.
The man then shot Deputy Stewart as he tried to arrest him. The suspect was apprehended several days later. In 1901 he was convicted of murder and sentenced to life but he was granted a new trial and acquitted. On May 28, 1904 he was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years. He was paroled on April 1, 1910. A few days later he was sent back to prison for violating his parole. He was again released from prison in 1913 and became the leader of a band of criminals committing several crimes throughout Bell County. On December 26, 1913 at Four Mile, he and his gang were involved in a shootout with several Bell County deputies, other men, and members of the Kentucky State Guard. Deputy Stewart's brother who was a Bell County Deputy exchanged several shots with the suspect. When it was over the suspect had killed a man and wounded a Bell County Deputy. On June 10, 1914, he was apprehended in West Virginia. He was returned to Bell County and convicted of the man's murder and sentenced to life on February 10, 1915.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-391C258F- 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 Stewart served with the Bell County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Pineville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Stewart.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Tom Stewart 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 Bell County Sheriff's Department, 24 of 26 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 92.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Tom Stewart's cause is highlighted.
How Tom Stewart Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 1910
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Tom Stewart is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Tom Stewart was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
25 officers from Bell County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
