Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Owen Sizemore was shot and killed as he and another deputy attempted to question two men who were handing out strike literature at the Blue Diamond Coal Mine.
When the deputies asked the two what they were carrying one of the men pulled out pamphlets from his pocket, and then pulled out a pistol. A struggle ensued in which Deputy Sizemore was shot in the head and killed.
The suspect was taken into custody later in the day.
Deputy Sizemore had served as a deputy for 1 year.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-54A3C0FB- 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
You barely got started.
Deputy Sheriff Sizemore gave the Harlan County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Harlan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Sizemore.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Owen Woodford Sizemore 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. Owen Woodford Sizemore's cause is highlighted.
How Owen Woodford Sizemore Compares
Offender Outcome
Apprehended
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Owen Woodford Sizemore is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Owen Woodford Sizemore was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
35 officers from Harlan County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
