James Leslie Hedgepeth

Louisville Police Department — Louisville, KY

Felonious

End of Watch February 12, 1942

Age 46

Tour of Duty 15 yrs 3 mo

The Vigil Panel 78 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 90

Incident

Patrolman James Hedgepeth succumbed to injuries sustained 10 days earlier while directing traffic at the scene of a fire. Patrolman Hedgepeth and William Kinney were struck by a drunk driver at 7:15 pm, while attempting to keep fire lanes open at Jackson and Main Streets for apparatus responding to a three-alarm fire. While on the scene a drunk driver entered the area at a high rate of speed. Patrolman Hedgepeth attempted to flag the driver down but instead the man drove over him, dragging him 70 feet and over a fire hose. Patrolman Kinney witnessed the incident and charged towards the vehicle, Striking and dragging him 100 feet. Both officers were taken to City Hospital where Patrolman Hedgepeth Succumbed to his injuries. Patrolman Kinney succumbed to his injuries a week after the incident. The driver of the vehicle was charged with two counts of manslaughter, two counts of assault and battery, driving while intoxicated, and driving with defective brakes. On April 16, 1942, the driver was sentenced to five years in prison and given a $9 and $19 sentence to pay for drunken driving. Patrolman Kinney served with the Louisville Police Department for 15 years. He is survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters. Patrolman Hedgepeth and Kinney were hired on November 8, 1926.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-EAA27C98
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.
Patrolman Hedgepeth gave the Louisville Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Louisville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Hedgepeth.

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

Agency

Department Louisville Police Department

Location Louisville, KY

Platform Identity lpd.jefferson.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 12, 1942

Tour of Duty 15 yrs 3 mo

Age 46

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Sentenced to five years

Patrolman James Leslie Hedgepeth 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 Louisville Police Department, 51 of 91 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 56% of this agency's fallen.

Louisville Police Department

of 91 officers

56% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious