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Incident
Deputy Sheriff Sean Pursifull was killed when his parked patrol car was intentionally rammed by a suspect fleeing a Kentucky State Police trooper. The two juvenile suspects in the car had just stolen gas from a service station in Baxter and then fled down U.S. 119.
As the occupants fled from the state troopers, the driver crossed the center line and rammed Deputy Pursifull's patrol car, which was stopped near the county line as the pursuit entered Bell County. Deputy Pursifull and his canine partner, King, were both killed.
The two suspects were taken into custody and charged with murder and assault on a service animal. The driver of the vehicle later pleaded guilty to wanton murder. He was subsequently sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Deputy Pursifull is survived by his wife and two children.
Survivors
Deputy Pursifull is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Pursifull served with the Bell County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Pineville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Pursifull.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Bell County Sheriff's Department has lost 26 officers; 24 of them killed feloniously.
Anthony is one of 756 officers killed feloniously in KY, 76.8% of the 984 remembered there.
Anthony is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Anthony 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 2008, 1 officer at Bell County Sheriff's Department was killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 20 years on record. The heaviest was 1902, with 2.
In 2008, 1 officer in KY was killed feloniously, the 112th heaviest of 147 years on record. The heaviest was 1926, with 22.
In 2008, 65 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 113th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 2008, 65 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 122nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Anthony was 31. Of the 20 killed feloniously at Bell County Sheriff's Department whose age is recorded, half were between 32.5 and 51.5; the middle age was 45.5.
Anthony was 31. Of the 669 killed feloniously in KY whose age is recorded, half were between 33 and 49; the middle age was 41.
Anthony was 31. 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.
Anthony was 31. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
January holds 12.5% of these deaths at Bell County Sheriff's Department; September holds the most, 16.7%. Thursdays: 12.5%.
January holds 6.2% of these deaths in KY; December holds the most, 11.5%. Thursdays: 13%.
January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
January holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 92.3% of all 26 deaths at Bell County Sheriff's Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 4.2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 76.8% of all 984 deaths in KY, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 1.2% 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 automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 4.4% of these deaths.
His people
Bell County Sheriff's Department has 26 officers remembered here, Anthony among them.
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Joseph Manning Jul 14, 1901
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Charles Cecil Feb 17, 1902
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John Doyle Feb 17, 1902
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Richard W. Slusher Apr 11, 1902
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Tom Stewart Nov 1, 1903
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Gordon Givens Jan 30, 1910
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Oland Collins Oct 3, 1911
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Sam Collins Oct 3, 1911
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Edward Neece Nov 7, 1912
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John McCoy Jan 9, 1918
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Columbus Partin Sep 12, 1921
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Bill Atkins
Jun 22, 1923
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Jim Collins Jul 4, 1923
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Andy R. Baird May 4, 1924
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Philip Mark Daniels
Jun 17, 1927
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Elihu L. Simpson May 5, 1929
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Frank Bowman Aug 6, 1932
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Henry Adams Owens May 6, 1933
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James Henry Bowlin
Jul 28, 1940
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George Thomas Fisher Dec 17, 1940
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Sherd Barry Partin
Sep 30, 1944
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Lathe Warren Sep 18, 1952
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Harvey Crawford
Nov 14, 1953
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Franklin Eugene Jackson Sep 20, 1965
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Horace Hall, Jr.
Aug 14, 1980
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Anthony Pursifull
Jan 10, 2008
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 33-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
25 officers from Bell County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
