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Police Officer

Benjamin S. Rust

Louisville Police Department — Louisville, KY

Felonious

End of Watch January 15, 1862

Age 40

Tour of Duty 22 yrs

The Vigil Panel 2 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 90

Incident

Police Officer Ben Rust was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a wanted man on Newburg Road.

He and two other officers went to the home of a suspect that was wanted for stealing several mules. After arriving, Officer Rust and a second officer went to the back of the home, while the other officer went to the front.

Officer Rust and the second officer entered the house and were met by a female who told them that no one else was home. Officer Rust searched the second floor of the house and found it to be empty. He then began searching the first floor with the other officer. They found a room door locked and forced it open. The suspect, who was hiding in the room, pushed the door shut, but Officer Rust was able to force it open again.

As he began to enter the room, the suspect opened fire, striking Officer Rust in the chest. The shot knocked Patrolman Rust back into the second officer. The suspect fired again, this time hitting Officer Rust in the head, killing him. The suspect continued to fire, wounding the second Officer.

Upon hearing the shots, the third officer, who was stationed outside, ran into the house. He shot and wounded the suspect, then struck him in the face with a club, knocking him unconscious and breaking his jaw.

The suspect was taken into custody and charged with murder.

Officer Rust had served with the Louisville Police Department for 22 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his mother and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-624A091D
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

164 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Officer Rust gave the Louisville Police Department 22 years.
Thank you for your service to the Louisville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Louisville Police Department

Location Louisville, KY

Platform Identity lpd.jefferson.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 15, 1862

Tour of Duty 22 yrs

Age 40

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Charged with murder

Police Officer Benjamin S. Rust 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 Louisville Police Department, 51 of 91 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 56% of this agency's fallen.

Louisville Police Department

of 91 officers

56% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious