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Incident
Deputy Sheriff Wesley Fannin succumbed to wounds sustained six days earlier when he was shot five times while attempting to serve a peace warrant.
He attempted to serve the warrant when he encountered the man on the Bull Creek Bridge near Prestonsburg.
Deputy Fannin was transported to a hospital in Huntington, West Virginia, where he died on August 1st, 1961. The man, a 50-year-old transient, who shot him was arrested by a posse and charged with murder.
In Our Keeping
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- 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 Fannin gave the Floyd County Sheriff's Office 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Prestonsburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Fannin.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Floyd County Sheriff's Office has lost 12 officers; 11 of them killed feloniously.
Wesley is one of 756 officers killed feloniously in KY, 76.8% of the 984 remembered there.
Wesley is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Wesley is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1961, 1 officer at Floyd County Sheriff's Office was killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 9 years on record. The heaviest was 1927, with 2.
In 1961, 4 officers in KY were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 147 years on record. The heaviest was 1926, with 22.
In 1961, 69 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 104th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1961, 73 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 102nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Wesley was 38. Of the 11 killed feloniously at Floyd County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 36 and 45.5; the middle age was 39. Wesley had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 6.1 years.
Wesley was 38. Of the 669 killed feloniously in KY whose age is recorded, half were between 33 and 49; the middle age was 41. Wesley had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Wesley was 38. 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. Wesley had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Wesley was 38. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Wesley had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 9.1% of these deaths at Floyd County Sheriff's Office; January holds the most, 27.3%. Tuesdays: 9.1%.
August holds 8.3% of these deaths in KY; December holds the most, 11.5%. Tuesdays: 12.4%.
August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
August holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 91.7% of all 12 deaths at Floyd County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 76.8% of all 984 deaths in KY, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause.
His people
Floyd County Sheriff's Office has 12 officers remembered here, Wesley among them.
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Beverly Gerome McCowan Mar 29, 1914
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Joseph Talt Hall
Feb 22, 1925
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Albert Phipps Mar 19, 1927
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Alvin D. Tackett
Mar 20, 1927
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Bee Martin
Jan 31, 1930
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Marion Layne
Jan 5, 1939
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A. B. Hicks
Dec 3, 1939
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Fred E. Damron Jan 20, 1941
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Wesley Sanford Fannin
Aug 1, 1961
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Lawrence Conley
Apr 12, 1972
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Oliver Little, Jr.
Oct 13, 2021
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William Edward Petry
Jun 30, 2022
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 24-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Floyd County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
