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Police Officer

Benjamin S. Rust

Louisville Police Department — Louisville, KY

Felonious

End of Watch January 15, 1862

Age 40

Tour of Duty 22 yrs

The Vigil Panel 8 · Column 4 · Line 9 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 90

Incident

Police Officer Ben Rust was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a wanted man on Newburg Road.

He and two other officers went to the home of a suspect that was wanted for stealing several mules. After arriving, Officer Rust and a second officer went to the back of the home, while the other officer went to the front.

Officer Rust and the second officer entered the house and were met by a female who told them that no one else was home. Officer Rust searched the second floor of the house and found it to be empty. He then began searching the first floor with the other officer. They found a room door locked and forced it open. The suspect, who was hiding in the room, pushed the door shut, but Officer Rust was able to force it open again.

As he began to enter the room, the suspect opened fire, striking Officer Rust in the chest. The shot knocked Patrolman Rust back into the second officer. The suspect fired again, this time hitting Officer Rust in the head, killing him. The suspect continued to fire, wounding the second Officer.

Upon hearing the shots, the third officer, who was stationed outside, ran into the house. He shot and wounded the suspect, then struck him in the face with a club, knocking him unconscious and breaking his jaw.

The suspect was taken into custody and charged with murder.

Officer Rust had served with the Louisville Police Department for 22 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his mother and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

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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

164 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Officer Rust gave the Louisville Police Department 22 years.
Thank you for your service to the Louisville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Louisville Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Louisville, Jefferson County, KY

Platform Identity lpd.jefferson.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 15, 1862

Tour of Duty 22 yrs

Age 40

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Benjamin is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1862, 8 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 176th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Benjamin was 40. 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. Benjamin had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded