James Powell Hays

Kentucky Highway Patrol — Frankfort, KY

Felonious

End of Watch December 21, 1935

Age 38

Tour of Duty 5 mo

The Vigil Panel 70 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 7

Incident

Patrolman Hays and Patrolman Robert Rowland were shot and killed while attempting to question two brothers about a stolen automobile at the garage they operated in Franklin. One of the brothers was sentenced to life and one was sentenced to six years. The brother who was released after only six years went on to murder Deputy Sheriff Melvin Fleming, of the Davidson County, Tennessee, Sheriff's Department, and Detective Charles Mundy, of the Nashville, Tennessee, Police Department. The two were murdered after Deputy Fleming attempted to arrest the man in a restaurant for being drunk in public. The man was shot and killed in the ensuing shootout. Patrolman Hays had served with the Kentucky Highway Patrol for five months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-F9E623BA
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 Hays served with the Kentucky Highway Patrol.
Thank you for your service to the people of Kentucky. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Hays.

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

Agency

Department Kentucky Highway Patrol

Location Frankfort, KY

Platform Identity khp.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 21, 1935

Tour of Duty 5 mo

Age 38

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Sentenced to life

Patrolman James Powell Hays 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 Kentucky Highway Patrol, 5 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.

Kentucky Highway Patrol

of 8 officers

62.5% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious