Clarence Lawson
Agency patch
Constable

Clarence Lawson

Knox County Constable's Office — Barbourville, KY
Felonious
End of Watch July 28, 1940
Age 29
The Vigil Panel 77 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Constable Clarence Lawson was shot and killed while transporting a prisoner from Corbin to Barboursville.

The man had been arrested for stealing items from railroad cars in Corbin. As they neared Barboursville the prisoner grabbed Constable Lawson's revolver and shot him in the back, fatally wounding him. The subject was able to escape but was arrested the following day by a railroad police officer near Siler.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-DFE60041
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.
Constable Lawson served with the Knox County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Barbourville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Lawson.

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

Agency

Location Barbourville, KY
Platform Identity kcco.knox.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 28, 1940
Age 29
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Officer's handgun
Offender Arrested

Constable Clarence Lawson 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 Knox County Constable's Office, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Knox County Constable's Office
4
of 4 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. Clarence Lawson'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 Clarence Lawson Compares

Age at End of Watch
29
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Arrested

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Clarence Lawson is highlighted in Jul.

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. Clarence Lawson was killed by officer's handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

3 officers from Knox County Constable's Office are honored on badge.nw.