Patrolman

John Wesley Carpenter

Louisville Police Department — Louisville, KY
Illness
End of Watch April 29, 1935
Age 54
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
The Vigil Panel 69 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman John Carpenter died as the result of an injury and infection to his hand sustained during a struggle with a prisoner two weeks earlier. His hand received a cut when he struck the prisoner in the teeth. A serious infection set in which required surgery to his hand and arm.

He died as a result of the infection at Baptist Hospital.

Patrolman Carpenter had served with the Louisville Police Department for 11 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Carpenter gave the Louisville Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Louisville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Carpenter.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Louisville, Jefferson County, KY
Platform Identity lpd.jefferson.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 29, 1935
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Age 54
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Illness
Cause Detail Duty related illness

The Sacrifice · Illness

John is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1935, 4 officers in the United States were lost to illness, the 29th heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 54. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. John had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

April holds 6.9% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Mondays: 14.2%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Louisville Police Department has 91 officers remembered here, John among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman John Wesley Carpenter

Louisville Police Department · End of Watch April 29, 1935

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 25-E

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