Franklin W. Pysher, Jr.

Jefferson County Police Department — Louisville, KY

Felonious Veteran →

End of Watch January 10, 1989

Age 43

Tour of Duty 17 yrs

The Vigil Panel 134 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 19

Incident

Officer Frank Pysher was shot and killed at the interchange of I-265 and Smyrna Road after responding to a call of a man walking on the highway with a gun. Officer Pysher located the man and rolled down his window to speak with him around 12:30 p.m. The man was known to Officer Pysher, who had dealt with him on several occasions. The suspect fired his rifle twice, hitting Officer Pysher in the head. Officer Pysher's patrol vehicle continued driving, crossing into oncoming traffic and hitting a guardrail. He was transported to Humana Hospital- University of Louisville, where he succumbed to his wounds. The suspect was arrested but was found incompetent to stand trial and sent to a state mental institution. Officer Pysher was a United States Navy veteran and had served with the Jefferson County Police Department for over 17 years. His father and three brothers all served in law enforcement.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, stepdaughter, and grandchild.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-9B055502
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.
Officer Pysher gave the Jefferson County Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Louisville community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Jefferson County Police Department

Location Louisville, KY

Platform Identity jcpd.jefferson.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 10, 1989

Tour of Duty 17 yrs

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; .22 caliber

Offender Found incompetent to stand trial

Military Service

Franklin W. Pysher, Jr. served in the Navy (1965â1968) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Officer Franklin W. Pysher, Jr. 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 Jefferson County Police Department, 5 of 20 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.

Jefferson County Police Department

of 20 officers

25% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious