Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Melvin Lucas was shot and killed while he and a local constable attempted to serve warrants at a local residence on a man and his son for assaulting a police officer. As Chief Lucas attempted to subdue the father, when he resisted arrest, his 23-year-old son shot him in his legs with a shotgun. Chief Lucas bled to death before help arrived. The suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on December 21, 1972. Chief Lucas was a United States Army Korean War veteran who had served with the Milton Police Department for five years and had previously served with the Jacksonville Beach Police Department in Florida.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WV-A60027AC- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Chief of Police Lucas gave the Milton Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Milton community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Melvin Ray Lucas served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Chief of Police Melvin Ray Lucas 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Melvin Ray Lucas's cause is highlighted.
How Melvin Ray Lucas Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Melvin Ray Lucas is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Melvin Ray Lucas was killed by shotgun; 12 gauge.