Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff John Meeks was shot and killed while attempting to detain a man who had been ruled incompetent and remanded to the custody of state hospital attendants.
The county judge ruled the man incompetent but allowed him to return to his home in the country to put his affairs in order. When the attendants arrived at the courthouse the judge sent word to the man to return so that he could be taken to Eastern State Hospital in Lexington. The man came to the judge's office, told him he would not go, and then attempted to leave. As Deputy Meeks tried to stop him from leaving the office the man produced a handgun and shot him twice.
The man, age 67, fired at the judge before fleeing. He was captured by the county sheriff and county jailer a short time later and sent to the Eastern State Hospital. In 1929 he was transferred to the Central State Hospital in Lakeland where he died on March 11, 1942.
Deputy Meeks had served with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office for three years.
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BO-US-KY-AD8BB54B- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Meeks gave the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Stanford community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Meeks.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff John Lafayette Meeks is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 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 76.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Lafayette Meeks's cause is highlighted.
How John Lafayette Meeks Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Lafayette Meeks is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Lafayette Meeks was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Lincoln County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
