Roll of Honor

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Town Marshal

Lafayette C. Copas

Rocky Hill Station Police Department — Rocky Hill Station, KY

Felonious

End of Watch August 8, 1908

Age 47

The Vigil Panel 22 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Town Marshal Lafayette Copas was shot and killed by the cousin of a man he had just arrested. The cousin confronted Marshal Copas, began to argue with him, and then shot him. The suspect was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to two years.

Marshal Copas was survived by his wife and one child. He was predeceased by a second child.

Survivors

Marshal Copas was survived by his wife and one child.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-BF568E17
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.
Town Marshal Copas served with the Rocky Hill Station Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Rocky Hill Station community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Town Marshal Copas.

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

Agency

Department Rocky Hill Station Police Department

Location Rocky Hill Station, KY

Platform Identity rhspd.warren.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 8, 1908

Age 47

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to 2 years

Town Marshal Lafayette C. Copas 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%.

Rocky Hill Station Police Department

of 1 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. Lafayette C. Copas'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 Lafayette C. Copas Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 2 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Lafayette C. Copas 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. Lafayette C. Copas 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