Sheriff Willie McKinley Winningham, Clinton County Sheriff's Department, Kentucky

Sheriff Willie McKinley Winningham

Clinton County Sheriff's Department, Kentucky

End of Watch Saturday, July 29, 1933

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Willie McKinley Winningham

Sheriff Winningham was shot and killed while attempting to serve a warrant on a man in the highway community of Clinton County.

He was shot in the man's home with a .38 caliber handgun. Sheriff Winningham, who was alone at the time, was able to return fire and killed the suspect.

Sheriff Winningham's father, Sheriff George Winningham, and brother, Deputy Floyd Winningham, both of Pickett County, Tennessee, were shot and killed while investigating a report of a murder on April 22, 1933, only three months before Sheriff Willie Winningham was murdered.

Sheriff Winningham had served with the Clinton County Sheriff's Department for seven years. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, and mother. His wife was appointed to complete his term in office and became the county's first female sheriff.

Bio

Age 38
Tour 7 years, 6 months
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber
Offender Shot and killed

warrant service

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Most Recent Reflection

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Sheriff Winningham,

Your service and sacrifice for the people of Albany, Kentucky, stand as a timeless testament to courage, duty, and honor. Though nearly a century has passed since your ultimate act of bravery, the nobility of your sacrifice remains undiminished. You are not a mere footnote in history, you are a pillar of heroism whose legacy continues to inspire.

Your commitment to public safety, even at the cost of your life, transcends time. It is the kind of valor that immortalizes a person, not just in memory, but in the very spirit of the community you served. You gave everything, and in doing so, became a symbol of what it truly means to protect and serve.

As someone who now walks a similar path in law enforcement, I carry your legacy with me. Though I serve in a different part of Kentucky, I am proud to call Albany my hometown. You are a role model not only for me, but for every officer who strives to uphold the values you embodied.

I believe God placed you on this earth as a warrior for good. You fulfilled that calling with honor, and I have no doubt you were welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven with open arms.

It is the highest privilege to stand alongside you in spirit as a member of the Thin Blue Line. Your memory lives on in every act of service, every moment of courage, and every life protected.

Rest in peace, Sheriff Winningham. Your legacy is eternal.

John Wallen, MA
Detective
Glasgow Police Department (KY)
Ambassador - National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF)

August 6, 2025