Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Jack Mills was shot and killed while checking a wrecked pickup truck on Highway 23.
Deputy Mills, along with the sheriff and two other deputies, had responded to the scene after receiving reports of a crash at about 2:00 am. They arrested one man at the scene for public drunkenness and were told by the man that a gun was in the cab of the truck. When Deputy Mills approached the truck to retrieve the gun he was ambushed by the arrested man's brother, who was hiding in the cab. The man shot Deputy Mills three times in the chest with a 9 mm handgun. He then fired on the other deputies before fleeing across a field. He was arrested later that morning and charged with murder. His brother was charged as an accessory to murder.
Deputy Mills' killer was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life on October 11, 1958.
Deputy Mills had served with the Knox County Sheriff's Office for five months. He was survived by his wife and five children. On December 9, 1959, his wife and two of his children were killed in a fire at their home. On October 27, 1963, his son was killed in a head-on collision near the place where his father was killed.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-429CBBC5- 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 Mills served with the Knox County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Barbourville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Mills.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Jack B. Mills 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 Knox County Sheriff's Office, 9 of 9 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. Jack B. Mills's cause is highlighted.
How Jack B. Mills Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jack B. Mills is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jack B. Mills was killed by handgun; 9 mm.
Others Who Wore This Badge
8 officers from Knox County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
