Larry Walsh, former Lexington chief of police, dies at 79
Larry Walsh, who served as Lexington’s chief of police throughout the 1990s, died Thursday, Jan. 15 at age 79.
“Chief Walsh served our community for more than 34 years before his retirement, rising through the ranks to serve as the third Chief of Police under the merged Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government,” Chief Lawrence Weathers said Friday. “I am proud to have served with him during my career, and I want to thank him for his dedication and service to our community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this time.”
Walsh joined the Lexington Police Department in 1967 after serving three years in the U.S. Air Force and earning an undergraduate degree in law enforcement and a master’s degree in police administration from Eastern Kentucky University.
He rose through the ranks in the department, moving to sergeant in 1974, lieutenant in 1978, captain in 1984 and eventually being appointed chief of police by then-Mayor Scotty Baesler in 1990.
“Larry Walsh made an enormous contribution to our community, helping to establish many of the high standards that are still part of our police department,” Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton said. “My prayers are with his family and friends.”
Walsh retired from the police department in 2001.
Herald-Leader reporter Valarie Honeycutt Spears contributed to this story.
This story was originally published January 16, 2026 at 3:11 PM.
