William Harrison Reams

Laurel County Sheriff's Department — London, KY

Felonious

End of Watch November 21, 1854

Age 36

The Vigil Panel 2 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Deputy Sheriff William Reams was stabbed to death while breaking up a disturbance. Despite his wounds, he was able to ride home to his family before dying with his wife by his side.

Survivors

Deputy Reams was survived by his wife and seven children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-40196531
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

172 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Reams served with the Laurel County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the London community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Laurel County Sheriff's Department

Location London, KY

Platform Identity lcso.laurel.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 21, 1854

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Edged weapon; Knife

Offender Not available

Deputy Sheriff William Harrison Reams 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 Laurel County Sheriff's Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Laurel County Sheriff's Department

of 4 officers

100% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious