Perry County Sheriff's Office, Kentucky
End of Watch: Friday, December 24, 1943
Age: 54
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: December 24, 1943
Weapon Used: Handgun; Revolver
Suspect Info: Charged with murder
Deputy Sheriff Jim Cornett was shot and killed while attempting to arrest an intoxicated man at a roadhouse in a rural area 12 miles from Hazard on the Perry-Leslie line.
As he made the arrest, the subject and another man both opened fire. Despite being fatally wounded, he was able to return fire and killed the subject. The other suspect and his brother were both arrested and charged with murder.
Deputy Cornett was survived by his wife and 10 children.