J. Wes Perkins
Agency patch
Town Marshal

J. Wes Perkins

Williamsburg Police Department — Williamsburg, KY
Felonious
End of Watch February 24, 1930
Age 57
Gender Male

Incident

Marshal Wes Perkins was shot and killed as he and another officer attempted to stop a car whose occupants they suspected of firing several shots from the vehicle.

Marshal Perkins had heard several shots fired in town in the middle of the night and was told they came from a dark colored car. He summoned a Whitley County deputy jailer and set off to locate the vehicle.

They found the vehicle on Main Street and attempted to flag it down. When it didn't stop, Marshal Perkins fired a shot in the air attempting to get its attention. The vehicle turned around and when it approached Marshal Perkins' position shots were exchanged. Marshal Perkins was fatally wounded and the two occupants of the car were wounded.

One of the subjects in the car was convicted of manslaughter in connection with Marshal Perkins' death and sentenced to 12 years.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
September 9, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Town Marshal Perkins served with the Williamsburg Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Williamsburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Town Marshal Perkins.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Williamsburg, Whitley County, KY
Platform Identity wpd.whitley.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 24, 1930
Age 57
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

The Sacrifice · Felonious

J. 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.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1930, 239 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

J. was 57. 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.

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

When

February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

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 gun; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded

Town Marshal J. Wes Perkins

Williamsburg Police Department · End of Watch February 24, 1930

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 42-E

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Williamsburg Police Department are honored on badge.nw.

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