Charles M. Kackley

West Virginia State Police — South Charleston, WV

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch May 25, 1921

Age 23

The Vigil Panel 41 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 41

Incident

Private Charles Kackley, Private Ernest Ripley, and Private William McMillion were all shot and killed during a two-year battle with striking coal miners, known as the Second Mine War, in which over 50 people were killed. The strike was finally put down with the help of the United States Army. Private Kackley and other members of the West Virginia State Police were assisting members of the Kentucky National Guard who had reported shots being fired across the river near Nolan, West Virginia. The Kentucky militia members crossed the river and accompanied the troopers approximately one mile down the road where they encountered four men. As Private Kackley began to search one of the men shots were fired and he was killed. A member of the Kentucky National Guard was also killed. All four subjects who had been stopped were arrested.

Survivors

Private Kackley was a United States Army veteran of World War I and was survived by his mother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WV-E4F105A2
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.
Private Kackley served with the West Virginia State Police.
Thank you for your service to the people of West Virginia, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department West Virginia State Police

Location South Charleston, WV

Platform Identity wvsp.wv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 25, 1921

Age 23

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Apprehended

Military Service

Charles M. Kackley served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Private Charles M. Kackley 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 State Police, 21 of 42 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

West Virginia State Police

of 42 officers

50% Felonious

WV — Statewide

169

of 232 officers

72.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious