According to the Dec. 16, 1926, Kentucky Standard, Hagan “died from heart failure” while searching the hills looking for moonshine stills on New Haven Road, three miles south of Bardstown. Hagan was out with a judge and two federal prohibition officers when he “complained of being tired and having a pain in his chest.” He said he would rest for a few minutes and meet back up with the others, but he never made it back. The Nelson County Coroner at the time, George Bealmear, said Hagan died “from over exertion and heart failure.” He was 62 years old.

Current Nelson County Sheriff Stephen Campbell said he was proud to have an officer of the past recognized on the memorial.

“It’s obviously an honor,” he said. “This was a good thing in that we did locate him and the circumstances, and honor him the way he deserved to be honored.”

Campbell also said that Nelson County has thankfully eradicated those moonshine stills.

“When I first came on to law enforcement in 1974,” he said, “I think there were still maybe a few left.”

“There’s probably one or two around somewhere, but you never hear of them anymore. I haven’t in years and years.”

“Back then, I’m sure there were a number of them being hunted.”

Campbell pointed out that Doug Alexander, the chaplain with the Nelson County Sheriff’s Department, was instrumental in researching past documents and getting Hagan recognized.

Hagan was elected a deputy sheriff four times in Nelson County, and was also elected as the High Sheriff in 1912. The Standard said Hagan was “a fearless officer and never failed to go when called.”

At Wednesday’s memorial in Richmond, Hagan’s grandson, R.L. Hagan III of Orange Beach, Ala., received a flag in honor of his grandfather. Officer R.L. Hagan’s name was also added to the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C.

-0-