Roll of Honor
Philip Perry Ketchum
Incident
Guard Philip Ketchum was shot and killed by an inmate along State Route 2, south of Proctor, West Virginia.
He and another guard were transporting 27 prisoners to the state penitentiary at Moundsville. Guard Ketchum, who was driving, had stopped the bus on the roadway to clear dirt from its windshield. While stopped one of the inmates, who was an escapee who was being returned to the prison, grabbed the pistol from the other guard and opened fire. Three of the shots struck the guard he grabbed the gun from and one of the shot struck Guard Ketchum in the chest, killing him.
Despite his wounds, the wounded guard and another inmate threw a chain around the subject's head and were able to subdue him. Troopers from the West Virginia State Police transported the prisoners to the penitentiary. The subject who murdered Guard Ketchum committed suicide by hanging himself in his cell 11 days later.
Guard Ketchum had served at the West Virginia State Penitentiary for only six months. His father served as warden at the facility.
Philip, On today, the 80th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of the state of West Virginia. There is no tougher job in Law Enforcement then that of a Corrections Officer.
R.I.P. USBP
Anonymous United States Border Patrol December 4th, 2021
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WV-1A46DB69- 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.
Guard Ketchum served with the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Thank you for your service to the Charleston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Ketchum.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Guard Philip Perry Ketchum 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 WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 18.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 6 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 85.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Philip Perry Ketchum's cause is highlighted.
How Philip Perry Ketchum Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Philip Perry Ketchum is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Philip Perry Ketchum was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation are honored on badge.nw.
