Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff James Bowlin succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained on April 21st, 1940 while attempting to arrest three men who assaulted his son following a public meeting at Frakes.
The three men were arrested after shooting Deputy Bowlin and charged with malicious shooting and wounding. Following Deputy Bowlin's death, the three men were charged with murder but two grand juries failed to indict them. A third grand jury investigated the murder in November 1941 but it is not known if it returned an indictment against any of the defendants.
Deputy Bowlin was survived by his wife and five children.
Survivors
Deputy Bowlin was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-913EF2EC- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Bowlin served with the Bell County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Pineville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Bowlin.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff James Henry Bowlin 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 Bell County Sheriff's Department, 24 of 26 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 92.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Henry Bowlin's cause is highlighted.
How James Henry Bowlin Compares
Offender Outcome
Charged with murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Henry Bowlin is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Henry Bowlin was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
25 officers from Bell County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
