Roll of Honor
Forrester "Forist" Messer
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Forist Messer and Jailer Charles West were shot and killed as they and another deputy attempted to serve a warrant on a man who had escaped from jail the previous week.
As they approached the man's home, they were fired upon from ambush. Jailer West and Deputy Messer were both killed, and the second deputy was wounded.
Six men were apprehended and charged with murder. One was convicted of murdering Jailer West and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Another was killed in a gunfight with another man four months later near Pineville.
Deputy Messer was a United States Army WWI veteran.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-74E6699F- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw. One record, 2 gates. Forrester is one person.
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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.
Deputy Sheriff Messer served with the Knox County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Barbourville 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
Forrester "Forist" Messer served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Deputy Sheriff Forrester "Forist" Messer is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 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 76.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Knox County Sheriff's Office, 9 of 9 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. Forrester "Forist" Messer's cause is highlighted.
How Forrester "Forist" Messer Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Forrester "Forist" Messer is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Forrester "Forist" Messer was killed by gun; unknown type.
Military Service
Forrester "Forist" Messer served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit Forrester "Forist" Messer’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
8 officers from Knox County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
