Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Sergeant Mialback succumbed to wounds sustained two days earlier when he was shot as he and two civilian volunteers transported three prisoners to the police station for questioning about a stolen car. As the patrol car was driving past the intersection of 5th and Jefferson Streets one of the suspects pulled a pistol from his hat and shot Detective Sergeant Mialback in the face. He then shot and killed the two volunteers before fleeing. The man was arrested three days later at his place of work. The 19-year-old suspect was convicted of Detective Mialback's murder and sentenced to death. He was granted a new trial in 1931 and was again sentenced to death. On May 2, 1931, he escaped from the Jefferson County Jail and captured six weeks later. On December 8, 1931, Governor Flem D. Sampson commuted his sentence to life. Two days later he was returned to Louisville to face murder charges of the other two men. On October 26, 1932, he was convicted of their murders and sentenced to two life terms. All three terms were to run non-concurrent. On February 10, 1936, he and four other inmates escaped when they stole a car within the prison complex and crashed through the security gate. They were all captured within a few days. On February 3, 1945, he was paroled. On November 20, 1947, he stole a car in Evansville, Indiana. Several days later he returned to Kentucky and was involved in a high speed chase with police in Owensboro. He lost control of the car and overturned, injuring a girl with him. He was convicted on federal charges of interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle, possession of unregistered firearms, and sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. On August 8, 1956, having been released a few months earlier, the Louisville Police received warrants from Houston, Texas, and Indianapolis, Indiana, for armed robbery in each city. On November 8, 1963, he cleverly slipped away from FBI agents at the scene of a car accident in New Jersey. On April 2, 1964 he wa
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- 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.
Detective Sergeant Mialback served with the Louisville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Louisville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Mialback.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Sergeant Lawrence J. Mialback 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Lawrence J. Mialback's cause is highlighted.
How Lawrence J. Mialback Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 1945
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Lawrence J. Mialback is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Lawrence J. Mialback was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
90 officers from Louisville Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
