Lazarus Arthur "Lace" Vinson

Louisa Police Department — Louisa, KY

Felonious

End of Watch October 13, 1930

Age 54

The Vigil Panel 60 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Chief Lace Vinson was killed when he was pushed from the running board of a truck while attempting to arrest the driver. Chief Vinson and another officer had been informed that the three occupants of the truck were intoxicated and driving around town creating a disturbance.

After removing two of the occupants the driver started to drive away, so Chief Vinson jumped onto the running board and ordered him to stop. The driver ignored Chief Vinson's command and drove a short distance, where it is believed he struck the chief with a hammer, knocking him off of the vehicle.

Chief Vinson fell to the ground and was then run over by the vehicle, suffering fatal injuries. The suspect was arrested minutes later after wrecking his truck while attempting to flee. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to 7 years in prison, but was pardoned after serving only a few months.

Chief Vinson was survived by his wife and seven children.

Survivors

Chief Vinson was survived by his wife and seven children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-76698838
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 Vinson served with the Louisa Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Louisa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Vinson.

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

Agency

Department Louisa Police Department

Location Louisa, KY

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

Service Record

End of Watch October 13, 1930

Age 54

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Vehicular assault

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Pardoned

Chief of Police Lazarus Arthur "Lace" Vinson 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 Louisa Police Department, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Louisa Police Department

of 4 officers

75% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious