Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable William Lear succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous day while quest questioning a man who had threatened a boy.
The boy was threatened after his hogs had gotten into the man's nearby cornfield in the Bear Wallow section of Madison County. The man told the boy if he didn't remove the hogs within five minutes he would kill him. As Constable Lear attempted to talk to the man he was immediately shot. Despite being mortally wounded, he was able to return fire and killed the subject.
Constable Lear was survived by his wife and nine children.
Survivors
Constable Lear was survived by his wife and nine children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-DEB36132- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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.
Constable Lear served with the Madison County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Richmond community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Lear.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable William Lear 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 97,756 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 Madison County Constable's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Lear's cause is highlighted.
How William Lear Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Lear is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Lear was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Madison County Constable's Office are honored on badge.nw.
