Roll of Honor

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Patrolman

Melvin Gregory

Harlan County Police Department — Harlan, KY

Felonious

End of Watch August 26, 1924

Age 42

The Vigil Panel 47 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Patrolman Melvin Gregory was shot and killed from ambush while speaking with a boy in Harlan. The suspect was arrested, convicted of murder, and sentenced to life. He was pardoned August 25, 1927, by Governor William J. Fields after the judge in the case said he thought the suspect was innocent.

It was believed that he was slain in revenge for his efforts to arrest bootleggers in the county.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-92B7E2D7
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.
Patrolman Gregory served with the Harlan County Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Harlan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Gregory.

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

Agency

Department Harlan County Police Department

Location Harlan, KY

Platform Identity hcpd.harlan.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 26, 1924

Age 42

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Patrolman Melvin Gregory 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 Harlan County Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Harlan County Police Department

of 2 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. Melvin Gregory'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 Melvin Gregory Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Melvin Gregory is highlighted in Aug.

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. Melvin Gregory was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Harlan County Police Department are honored on badge.nw.