An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
The Kentucky Fallen Officers Memorial is at the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife headquarters in Frankfort, Kentucky. Dedicated on May 17, 2014, the memorial honors the sacrifice of 11 Kentucky game wardens who have died in the line of duty since 1918.
On May 19, 2025, many gathered at the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources headquarters to honor the fallen. Check out the media gallery below.
On September 14, 1918, Game Warden Elijah Roberts was shot and killed from an ambush in Breathitt County by two suspects who were seeking revenge against him. He and another game warden were returning from a multi-day investigation in Hazard and were approaching Warden Roberts' home when the two suspects opened fire from a nearby cliff hidden in a cluster of bushes.
On December 23, 1933, Deputy Game Warden James Claxton was shot and killed in Carroll County as he and two other wardens served a warrant on a man for using a double-wing net in violation of state game laws.
On August 7, 1947, Conservation Officer John C. Martin was shot and killed while investigating out-of-season squirrel hunting in Warren County. The suspect who shot Officer Martin was arrested approximately two hours later. The man's brother was also arrested at a later date and charged as an accomplice.
On April 28, 1959, Conservation Officer James Brady McClain was killed in a vehicle crash on U.S. 68, one mile west of Gracey. Officer McClain was returning from a conservation meeting in Christian County when the accident occurred.
On October 21, 1965, Conservation Officer Raymond Alexander Birdsong was killed in a vehicle crash on Route 453, approximately one-half mile north of Grand Rivers, Kentucky. Officer Birdsong died while on duty.
On April 8, 1972, Water Patrol Officer Childs and Trooper James McNeely of the KSP drowned when their boat went over Dam 4 on the Kentucky River. The officers were searching for two missing juveniles when the accident occurred.
On July 20, 1973, Conservation Officer Denver Tabor drowned in the Ohio River in Crittenden County while attempting to save the life of a 10-year-old child who had fallen overboard from a boat.
On March 19, 1987, Conservation Officer Robert C. Banker was shot and killed in Christian County after issuing a man a fishing citation. The suspect was convicted of Officer Banker's murder and sentenced to 22 years in prison.
On June 21, 1999, Conservation Officer Bernard D. Ratliff suffered a fatal heart attack while on duty participating in agency-approved physical training.
On May 19, 2003, Conservation Officer Douglas W. Bryant was killed when his patrol truck was intentionally struck by the car of a man he was pursuing on I-75/71 in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky.
On November 1, 2024, Game Warden William “Tex” Bailey died in Barren County after being engaged in basic swimming and water survival training with Academy Class 28.
Every year, our Law Enforcement Division recognizes the Conservation Officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. The memorial hosted a moving tribute on Monday, May 19, 2025, to our 11 officers who had paid the ultimate sacrifice for our Commonwealth. The photograph series was documented by Rachel Cummings, and the video shows the sights and sounds as produced by Nathan Sangster.
A new memorial stone was added to honor Warden William “Tex” Bailey, who tragically passed away on Nov. 1, 2024, during training in Barren County. Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.
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