Jesse Offut
Agency patch
City Marshal

Jesse Offut

Franklin Police Department — Franklin, KY
Felonious Veteran
End of Watch August 19, 1884
Age 44
The Vigil Panel 8 ›
Gender Male

Incident

City Marshal Jesse Offut was shot and killed as he and the city's deputy marshal accompanied a 20-year-old prisoner to a local saloon.

They had arrested the man for drunkenness and agreed to let him go to the saloon to secure a bondsman. As they walked along the street the prisoner fell back a few steps before pulling out a gun and opening fire on the south side of the public square. Marshal Offut was struck three times in the back and fatally wounded.

The deputy marshal returned fire and wounded the suspect before taking him into custody.

City Marshal Offcut was survived by his wife. He was a Confederate Civil War Veteran who served as a private with the 18th Tennessee Infantry, Company K.

Survivors

City Marshal Offcut was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-99B25C04
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
City Marshal Offut served with the Franklin Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Franklin community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Location Franklin, KY
Platform Identity fpd.simpson.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 19, 1884
Age 44
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun
Offender Shot and wounded

Military Service

Jesse Offut served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

City Marshal Jesse Offut 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 Franklin Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Franklin Police Department
1
of 2 officers
50% 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 Offut'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 Offut Compares

Age at End of Watch
44
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 Offut 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. Jesse Offut was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Franklin Police Department are honored on badge.nw.