Roll of Honor

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City Marshal

W. D. Coursey

White Plains Marshal's Office — White Plains, KY

Felonious

End of Watch September 13, 1910

Age 35

The Vigil Panel 24 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Marshal W.D. Coursey succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous day while attempting to arrest an intoxicated man on a charge of breach of peace on the town's main street.

The suspect produced a pistol and shot Marshal Coursey in the abdomen as he attempted to take him into custody.

Despite being mortally wounded, Marshal Coursey returned fire and struck the suspect four times. The suspect also died from his wounds.

Marshal Coursey had only served as marshal for a short period of time.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and several children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-819E0109
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.
City Marshal Coursey served with the White Plains Marshal's Office.
Thank you for your service to the White Plains community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, City Marshal Coursey.

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

Agency

Department White Plains Marshal's Office

Location White Plains, KY

Platform Identity wpmarshal.hopkins.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 13, 1910

Age 35

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Shot and killed

City Marshal W. D. Coursey 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%.

White Plains Marshal's Office

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. W. D. Coursey's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How W. D. Coursey Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. W. D. Coursey is highlighted in Sep.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. W. D. Coursey was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518