Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Kentucky
End of Watch: Thursday, August 7, 1947
Age: 29
Tour of Duty: 4 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: August 7, 1947
Weapon Used: Shotgun; 12 gauge
Suspect Info: Charges dismissed
Conservation Officer John Martin was shot and killed while investigating out-of-season squirrel hunting along the Old Morgantown Road in Warren County, 12 miles west of Bowling Green.
The man 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.
The shooter was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. He was granted a new trial that ended with a hung jury. A third trial also ended with a hung jury. The murder charge was dismissed in 1951.
Officer Martin was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII. He had served as a state conservation officer for only four months. He was survived by his wife, daughter, and two sons.