Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Moss Metcalf was shot and killed while attempting to break up a disturbance in front of a store near the Wilson-Berger Mine.
Deputy Metcalf had been called to the scene to quell an argument between four people. Shots were fired when he attempted to arrest one of the men who was holding a pistol and he was struck 10 ten times.
It is believed that the men staged the argument in order to lure Deputy Metcalf to the scene to kill him for revenge. Deputy Metcalf's brother, who was also a deputy, shot and killed the brother of one the men during an arrest the previous summer.
Two of the men were arrested a short time after the murder. Only one was tried for murder and he was acquitted.
Deputy Metcalf had served as a deputy for 18 months and had previously served with the Harlan Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two sons, parents, sister, and five brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-74E8BD83- 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
You barely got started.
Deputy Sheriff Metcalf gave the Harlan County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Harlan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Metcalf.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Moss J. Metcalf 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 Harlan County Sheriff's Office, 36 of 36 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. Moss J. Metcalf's cause is highlighted.
How Moss J. Metcalf Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Moss J. Metcalf is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
35 officers from Harlan County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
