Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable Preston Rains was shot and killed while attempting to serve a warrant on a subject wanted for operating a speakeasy.
Constable Rains was shot as he attempted to enter the man's home to arrest him.
The man remained at large until being arrested two years later in Arkansas using an assumed name.
Constable Rains was survived by his wife and five children. He was a Union Civil War Veteran who served as a private with the 49th Kentucky Infantry, Company G.
Survivors
Constable Rains was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-5676B276- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Constable Rains served with the Whitley County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Williamsburg community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Preston C. Rains served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Constable Preston C. Rains 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 Whitley County Constable's Office, 3 of 3 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. Preston C. Rains's cause is highlighted.
How Preston C. Rains Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Preston C. Rains is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Whitley County Constable's Office are honored on badge.nw.
