Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff John McCargue was assassinated by two brothers as he was putting his horse in his stable. Upon hearing the shots, his wife and daughter ran out to the stable and saw the brothers running away with pistols in their hands. Both were captured a short time later.
Three days later an angry mob seized the suspects from the county jail and hanged them both from a near-by sycamore tree. Both suspects denied killing the sheriff, and protested their innocence to the last.
Rest in peace always knowing that no passage of time can ever erase your service and sacrifice.
Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo Delaware State Police (Retired) September 13th, 2020
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-KY-57C91167- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
135 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff McCargue served with the Pulaski County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Somerset community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff John McCargue 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 Pulaski County Sheriff's Department, 8 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 88.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John McCargue's cause is highlighted.
How John McCargue Compares
Offender Outcome
Lynched
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John McCargue is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John McCargue was killed by handgun; pistol.
Others Who Wore This Badge
8 officers from Pulaski County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
