Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Marshal John Gill was shot and killed while assisting the another deputy marshal arrest a drunk and disorderly man.
They had taken the man into custody and were taking him to jail when they were approached by the town marshal of Farmers, Kentucky. The other town marshal leveled his pistol at the officers and ordered them to release the prisoner. The officer complied and the subjects then began to head towards the depot.
A posse was formed and went to the depot to recover the prisoner and take the other town marshal into custody. When the posse arrived at the depot the man opened fire, killing Deputy Marshal Gill and wounding another man before he was subdued.
The Farmers town marshal had forcibly abducted a girl the previous night and she was found at the depot and returned to her father. The town marshal was sentenced to 21 years in prison for Deputy Marshal Gill's murder. In 1893 the Kentucky governor rejected a request to pardon the man.
Deputy Gill was survived by his wife and three children.
Survivors
Deputy Gill was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-E294321E- 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
141 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Marshal Gill served with the Mount Sterling Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Mount Sterling community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Marshal John Gill 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 Mount Sterling Police Department, 3 of 3 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. John Gill's cause is highlighted.
How John Gill Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 21 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Gill is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Gill was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Mount Sterling Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
