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Incident
Deputy Sheriff Lawrence Conley was shot and killed from ambush as he stood outside of his patrol car at a service station in Garrett at approximately 11:45 pm. The service station had closed for the night, and Deputy Conley had pulled in and parked, facing the highway. He had gone to Garrett to meet with a county constable to discuss an assault case he was investigating. At some point, someone approached and shot him twice at close range with a 12-gauge shotgun, killing him instantly. The suspect was apprehended in 1974 and charged with murder. A judge reduced the charges and granted the suspect a five-year sentence that the state Supreme Court overruled. The results of the subsequent trial are unknown. Deputy Conley had served with the Floyd County Sheriff's Office for 14 months.
Survivors
He was survived by two children and his parents.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Deputy Sheriff Conley gave the Floyd County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Prestonsburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Conley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Floyd County Sheriff's Office has lost 12 officers; 11 of them killed feloniously.
Lawrence is one of 756 officers killed feloniously in KY, 76.8% of the 984 remembered there.
Lawrence is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Lawrence is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1972, 1 officer at Floyd County Sheriff's Office was killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 9 years on record. The heaviest was 1927, with 2.
In 1972, 2 officers in KY were killed feloniously, the 92nd heaviest of 147 years on record. The heaviest was 1926, with 22.
In 1972, 142 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 28th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1972, 160 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 27th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Lawrence was 43. Of the 11 killed feloniously at Floyd County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 36 and 45.5; the middle age was 39. Lawrence had served 1.2 years; the middle length of service was 6.1 years.
Lawrence was 43. Of the 669 killed feloniously in KY whose age is recorded, half were between 33 and 49; the middle age was 41. Lawrence had served 1.2 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Lawrence was 43. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Lawrence had served 1.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Lawrence was 43. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Lawrence had served 1.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 9.1% of these deaths at Floyd County Sheriff's Office; January holds the most, 27.3%. Wednesdays: 9.1%.
April holds 9.1% of these deaths in KY; December holds the most, 11.5%. Wednesdays: 11.1%.
April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
April holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 91.7% of all 12 deaths at Floyd County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 9.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 76.8% of all 984 deaths in KY, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 8.2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 6.3% of these deaths.
His people
Floyd County Sheriff's Office has 12 officers remembered here, Lawrence among them.
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Beverly Gerome McCowan Mar 29, 1914
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Joseph Talt Hall
Feb 22, 1925
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Albert Phipps Mar 19, 1927
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Alvin D. Tackett
Mar 20, 1927
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Bee Martin
Jan 31, 1930
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Marion Layne
Jan 5, 1939
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A. B. Hicks
Dec 3, 1939
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Fred E. Damron Jan 20, 1941
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Wesley Sanford Fannin
Aug 1, 1961
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Lawrence Conley
Apr 12, 1972
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Oliver Little, Jr.
Oct 13, 2021
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William Edward Petry
Jun 30, 2022
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 10-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Floyd County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
