Josiah "Joe" Asher

Pineville Police Department — Pineville, KY

Felonious

End of Watch April 29, 1924

Age 39

The Vigil Panel 47 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Chief Joe Asher was shot and killed by the police department's assistant chief during a dispute over a recent arrest. The assistant chief had arrested a man for being drunk in public and had taken him before the police judge.

The judge had released the man on a $20 bond, but the the chief returned the man to the court and insisted he should have not have been arrested on the charge. Chief Asher and the assistant chief then engaged in a heated argument in front of the judge. The assistant chief pulled out his pistol and shot Chief Asher, killing him.

The assistant chief/shooter was tried twice. The first trial ended with a hung jury; the second with an acquittal.

Chief Asher was survived by his wife.

The assistant chief/shooter was tried twice. The first trial ended with a hung jury; the second with an acquittal.

Survivors

Chief Asher was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-56B5AB55
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.
Chief of Police Asher served with the Pineville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Pineville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Asher.

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

Agency

Department Pineville Police Department

Location Pineville, KY

Platform Identity ppd.bell.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 29, 1924

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Apprehended but acquitted

Chief of Police Josiah "Joe" Asher 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 Pineville Police Department, 6 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Pineville Police Department

of 6 officers

100% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious