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Chief of Police

William Lou "Bill" Osborne

Martin Police Department — Martin, KY

Felonious

End of Watch October 9, 1927

Age 50

The Vigil Panel 54 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Chief Bill Osborne and his 17-year-old son were shot and killed by a man who was seeking revenge against the chief for a previous shooting. The chief had shot and wounded the suspect's uncle the previous week while attempting to arrest him.

The man went to Chief Osborne's home and opened fire without warning, killing Chief Osborne and mortally wounding his son. Despite the wound, he was able to return fire and fatally shoot the suspect.

Chief Osborne was survived by his wife and 12 children.

Survivors

Chief Osborne was survived by his wife and 12 children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-D572C34A
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.
Chief of Police Osborne served with the Martin Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Martin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Osborne.

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

Agency

Department Martin Police Department

Location Martin, KY

Platform Identity martpd.floyd.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 9, 1927

Age 50

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Chief of Police William Lou "Bill" Osborne 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%.

Martin 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. William Lou "Bill" Osborne'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 William Lou "Bill" Osborne Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Lou "Bill" Osborne is highlighted in Oct.

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. William Lou "Bill" Osborne 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