Roll of Honor
Incident
Trooper Willis Martin was killed when his department vehicle was struck head on by the 21-year-old driver of another car when he crossed into his lane while attempting to pass another car. The subject and his passenger, also 21, were killed.
Survivors
Lieutenant Martin is survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-9739B5A9- 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.
Lieutenant Martin gave the Kentucky State Police 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Kentucky. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Martin.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Lieutenant Willis Durwood Martin is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In KY, 161 of 983 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 16.4% of this state's fallen. That is 14.6 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At KY State Police, 16 of 29 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 55.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Willis Durwood Martin's cause is highlighted.
How Willis Durwood Martin Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Willis Durwood Martin is highlighted in Apr.
Others Who Wore This Badge
28 officers from KY State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
