Roll of Honor
Incident
Marshal Beard was stabbed to death after arresting a street brawler. The suspect threw Marshal Beard to the ground and then stabbed him in the chest, puncturing his lung and heart. He succumbed to his wounds at the scene.
Several bystanders were able to subdue the man and took him to the Fayette County Jail. A short time later an angry mob stormed the jail, removed the prisoner, and attempted to hang him from the second floor of the nearby courthouse. The rope broke when they pushed him from the window and his head was crushed on the pavement below. Another rope was located and his body was then hung from the window for several hours.
Marshal Beard was survived by his wife and four children.
Survivors
Marshal Beard was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-DF9B0BAF- 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
168 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
City Marshal Beard served with the Lexington Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Lexington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
City Marshal Joseph Beard 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 Lexington Police Department, 8 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Beard's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Beard Compares
Offender Outcome
Lynched by mob
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Beard is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Beard was killed by edged weapon; knife.
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Lexington Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
