Jesse Peters
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Jesse Peters

Felonious
End of Watch June 30, 1923
Age 21
The Vigil Panel 45 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Jesse Peters succumbed to gunshot wound sustained two months earlier while attempting to arrest a man for being drunk in public.

During the arrest the man opened fire, wounding Deputy Peters and killing a bystander. Despite being wounded, Deputy Peters returned fire and wounded the suspect as well.

Deputy Peters was taken to Harlan Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds on June 30, 1923. The suspect was identified but never charged.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-930E4132
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 Peters served with the Harlan County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Harlan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Peters.

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

Agency

Location Harlan, KY
Platform Identity hcso.harlan.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 30, 1923
Age 21
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Shot and wounded

Deputy Sheriff Jesse Peters 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 Sheriff's Office, 36 of 36 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Harlan County Sheriff's Office
36
of 36 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. Jesse Peters'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 Jesse Peters Compares

Age at End of Watch
21
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and wounded

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jesse Peters is highlighted in Jun.

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. Jesse Peters 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