Deputy Sheriff

John F. Cable

Pike County Sheriff's Office — Pikeville, KY
Felonious
End of Watch October 2, 1940
Age 45
Tour of Duty 11 mo
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff John Cable was shot and killed by a prisoner he had arrested for disorderly conduct.

As Deputy Cable drove the suspect to jail, they stopped at a service station after the man had requested to use the bathroom. The man was taking an unusually long time, and when Deputy Cable went to check on him, the man opened fire. Despite being mortally wounded, Deputy Cable returned fire.

The 22-year-old suspect was arrested, convicted of murder, and sentenced to life in December 1940.

Deputy Cable was appointed to the Pike County Sheriff's Office, assigned to Shelby Gap in November 1939.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, four daughters, four brothers, and one sister.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Cable served with the Pike County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Pikeville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Cable.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Pikeville, Pike County, KY
Platform Identity pcso.pike.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 2, 1940
Tour of Duty 11 mo
Age 45
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John 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.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1940, 91 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 45. 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. John had served 0.9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

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
V

His people

Pike County Sheriff's Office has 16 officers remembered here, John among them.

VI

Where

Deputy Sheriff John F. Cable

Pike County Sheriff's Office · End of Watch October 2, 1940

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 6-E

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