Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Hugh Bryant was shot and killed in Morehead, Kentucky while intervening in an incident involving a drunk and disorderly man.
Deputy Bryant was eating dinner with friends inside of a cafe when the man entered and started cursing at patrons. Deputy Bryant asked the man to stop cursing in front of the ladies. Realizing the man was drunk, Deputy Bryant, who also served as a federal prohibition agent, then went to look in the man's car for liquor. As he did so the man exited the cafe and shot him.
The man was arrested but subsequently acquitted of murder after pleading self-defense. After the acquittal, he was taken into custody in the courthouse by federal prohibition agents for liquor law violations.
Deputy Bryant was survived by his wife.
Survivors
Deputy Bryant was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-DFE53565- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Bryant served with the Morgan County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the West Liberty community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Bryant.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Hugh H. Bryant 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Hugh H. Bryant's cause is highlighted.
How Hugh H. Bryant Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Hugh H. Bryant is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.