Incident
Town Marshal Jim Hubbard was shot and killed while attempting to arrest three drunk men who had been firing their guns into the air in an effort to ambush him.
Marshal Hubbard had arrested one of their friends 30 minutes earlier for being drunk in public. The remaining three subjects then began to shoot their guns in town to attempt to get Marshal Hubbard to try to arrest them as well. When he did so the man opened fire on him, fatally wounding him.
One of the men fled town but the other two were arrested and charged with Marshal Hubbard's murder. One was acquitted while the second was sentenced to 21 years in prison. He was released after serving only eight years. The third man returned to Barboursville and turned himself in 12 years later, in 1899. He was also acquitted of murder charges.
Town Marshal Hubbard, On today, the 138th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Barbourville.
BPA Mike Casey United States Border Patrol(Retired) December 24th, 2025
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-555703B7- 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
139 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Town Marshal Hubbard served with the Barbourville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Barbourville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Town Marshal Jim Tom Hubbard 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 Barbourville Police Department, 5 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jim Tom Hubbard's cause is highlighted.
How Jim Tom Hubbard Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 21 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jim Tom Hubbard is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jim Tom Hubbard was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Barbourville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.

