Elliott County Sheriff's Department, Kentucky
End of Watch: Sunday, August 24, 1947
Age: 27
Tour of Duty: 2 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: August 23, 1947
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Sheriff Estill Adkins was shot and killed as he and two deputies attempted to arrest a 49-year-old man wanted for cutting another man's throat earlier in the day.
The sheriff and deputies had gone to Rocky Branch, where they encountered the suspect. The man opened fire on the officers, killing Sheriff Adkins, before being wounded by return fire. He was arrested, convicted of Sheriff Adkins' murder, and sentenced to life.
Sheriff Adkins had served as sheriff of Elliott County Sheriff's Department for two years. He was survived by his wife and children.