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Deputy Sheriff

Robert Ezra "Tes" Deakins

Franklin County Sheriff's Office — Frankfort, KY

Felonious

End of Watch November 2, 1897

Age 37

The Vigil Panel 14 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Deputy Tes Deakins was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a politician who had ambushed a rival politician earlier in the day.

As Deputy Deakins attempted to make the arrest, the man and several members of his group opened fire on him, fatally wounding him. Two of the suspects were killed by return fire.

One of the men who was killed shot and killed Chief Jerry Lee, of the Frankfort Police Department, on September 18, 1882. The man had been acquitted of Chief Lee's murder and was set free.

Deputy Deakins was survived by his wife and three children.

Survivors

Deputy Deakins was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-E74A3EFF
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

129 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Deakins served with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Frankfort community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Franklin County Sheriff's Office

Location Frankfort, KY

Platform Identity fcso.franklin.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 2, 1897

Age 37

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Deputy Sheriff Robert Ezra "Tes" Deakins 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%.

Franklin County Sheriff's Office

of 1 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. Robert Ezra "Tes" Deakins'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 Robert Ezra "Tes" Deakins Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Ezra "Tes" Deakins is highlighted in Nov.

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. Robert Ezra "Tes" Deakins was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518