Mount Sterling Police Department, Kentucky
End of Watch: Tuesday, February 24, 1885
Age: 28
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: February 24, 1885
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 21 years
Deputy Marshal John Gill was shot and killed while assisting the another deputy marshal arrest a drunk and disorderly man.
They had taken the man into custody and were taking him to jail when they were approached by the town marshal of Farmers, Kentucky. The other town marshal leveled his pistol at the officers and ordered them to release the prisoner. The officer complied and the subjects then began to head towards the depot.
A posse was formed and went to the depot to recover the prisoner and take the other town marshal into custody. When the posse arrived at the depot the man opened fire, killing Deputy Marshal Gill and wounding another man before he was subdued.
The Farmers town marshal had forcibly abducted a girl the previous night and she was found at the depot and returned to her father. The town marshal was sentenced to 21 years in prison for Deputy Marshal Gill's murder. In 1893 the Kentucky governor rejected a request to pardon the man.
Deputy Gill was survived by his wife and three children.