Joseph Manning

Bell County Sheriff's Department — Pineville, KY

Felonious

End of Watch July 14, 1901

Age 37

The Vigil Panel 17 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 25

Incident

Deputy Manning was shot and killed as he and a Middlesboro police officer attempted to arrest a man for firing a gun into the air. The suspect was known to taunt officers by firing into the air and fleeing town, outside of their jurisdiction.

Deputy Manning observed the man fire the gun and then went to obtain a warrant for the man. After obtaining the warrant he and the Middlesboro officer located the man a short distance away. When they called out to him the man immediately opened fire.

The officers returned fire and then Deputy Manning chased the suspect on foot. Deputy Manning lost sight of the man but stopped to ask two boys if they had seen him. As he spoke to them the suspect opened fire from a hiding spot, fatally wounding Deputy Manning.

The other officer returned fire, striking the suspect several times. Despite being wounded the man fled into the woods but was arrested by a posse a short time later.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-C0351A25
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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.
Deputy Sheriff Manning served with the Bell County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Pineville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Manning.

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

Agency

Department Bell County Sheriff's Department

Location Pineville, KY

Platform Identity bcso.bell.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 14, 1901

Age 37

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and wounded

Deputy Sheriff Joseph Manning 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 Bell County Sheriff's Department, 24 of 26 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 92.3% of this agency's fallen.

Bell County Sheriff's Department

of 26 officers

92.3% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious