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Incident
Deputy Sheriff David Galloway and Deputy Sheriff Willard Hall were shot and killed while attempting to serve an arrest warrant on a man at the home of another man.
As the two talked with the suspect and the homeowner, the homeowner's wife opened fire with a shotgun from behind a door, killing both. When the sheriff and others arrived at the home, the woman, 46, confessed that she shot both when their conversation turned ugly, and a deputy drew his gun and grabbed her husband. She said she opened fire because she feared for his life. Both men and the woman's 16-year-old son stated that they did not know what had happened. All four were arrested and jailed for murder.
The man, 58, who had the warrant was acquitted of killing Deputy Constable Isom Miles in 1923, but was convicted of murdering a man in 1929. In March of 1948, he was rushed to a hospital after a piece of meat got stuck in his throat. The food was successfully removed, but the stress caused him to have a heart attack, and he died an hour later. The woman's husband, 52, was convicted of two counts of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to 42 years. He was paroled in May of 1954. In April of 1949, the woman, during her trial, held to her story that she killed to save her husband. Her husband and son stuck to their story, claiming they did not know what had happened. She was acquitted. Charges were dropped against her son.
Deputy Galloway had served with the Letcher County Sheriff's Office for 20 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
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Tributes
20 years. You could have gone home.
Deputy Sheriff Galloway gave the Letcher County Sheriff's Office 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Whitesburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Galloway.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Letcher County Sheriff's Office has lost 19 officers; 16 of them killed feloniously.
David is one of 756 officers killed feloniously in KY, 76.8% of the 984 remembered there.
David is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
David is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1947, 2 officers at Letcher County Sheriff's Office were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1947, 8 officers in KY were killed feloniously, the 30th heaviest of 147 years on record. The heaviest was 1926, with 22.
In 1947, 86 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 74th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1947, 87 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 78th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
David was 50. Of the 15 killed feloniously at Letcher County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 31.5 and 45; the middle age was 39. David had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 0.6 years.
David was 50. Of the 669 killed feloniously in KY whose age is recorded, half were between 33 and 49; the middle age was 41. David had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
David was 50. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. David had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
David was 50. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. David had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
December holds 25% of these deaths at Letcher County Sheriff's Office, more than any other month. Saturdays: 18.8%.
December holds 11.5% of these deaths in KY, more than any other month. Saturdays: 19%.
December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Saturdays: 16.3%.
December holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 84.2% of all 19 deaths at Letcher County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 76.8% of all 984 deaths in KY, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause.
His people
Letcher County Sheriff's Office has 19 officers remembered here, David among them.
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William S. Wright
Jan 30, 1900
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William Wright
Apr 11, 1901
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James Day May 30, 1904
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Henry Day Feb 5, 1905
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Miles Hall Nov 1, 1921
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Charles Willard McKinney Nov 26, 1923
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James Robert Wright Jun 13, 1926
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Patrick Hagans Bates Jul 16, 1927
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Jesse Fulton Aug 21, 1927
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Joner Cornett Sep 2, 1928
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W. H. Carter
Feb 17, 1929
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Ebb Gibson Jun 6, 1930
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Jason Andrew Webb
Dec 24, 1931
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James T. Morgan Dec 18, 1932
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David Galloway
Dec 20, 1947
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Willard Hall
Dec 20, 1947
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Conley Potter
Aug 8, 1958
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Leonard Adams, Sr. Dec 6, 1961
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Raymond Warf
Oct 31, 1970
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 21-E
What is kept
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