Roll of Honor
Incident
Guard George Ball was shot and killed with his own service weapon during an escape attempt near Mount Vernon, Kentucky.
He was escorting eight inmates to the Kentucky Central Railroad from a nearby prison camp. One of the prisoners pretended that his handcuffs were hurting him and asked Guard Ball to adjust them. As he Guard Ball attempted to fix them the man grabbed his shotgun and opened fire, killing him.
The prisoner and three others escaped while four others returned to the prison camp and advised other guards of what happened. Three of the escaped inmates were captured the following day. The man prisoner who murdered Guard Ball was eventually captured and convicted of murder. He was sentenced to life in prison.
George, On today, the 140th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of the state of Kentucky. There is no tougher job in Law Enforcement than that of a Corrections Officer.
BPA Mike Casey United States Border Patrol(Retired) May 8th, 2024
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-8432020D- 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
142 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Guard Ball gave the Kentucky Department of Corrections 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the people of Kentucky. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Guard George L. Ball 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 Kentucky Department of Corrections, 9 of 17 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 52.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. George L. Ball's cause is highlighted.
How George L. Ball Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. George L. Ball is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. George L. Ball was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
16 officers from Kentucky Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw.
