Kentuckians gathered in Richmond to remember police officers who died serving the commonwealth last year. Nine names were added to the police memorial at the Department of Criminal Justice Training on the campus of Eastern Kentucky University.
Seven officers died last year, and two historical nominees were added during the annual ceremony. Governor Beshear was one of the speakers at yesterday’s ceremony. He said the job these officers perform is not something just anyone can do.
“Law enforcement is a career focused on service above self and these officers served their communities to make the commonwealth a better place for every single one of our Kentucky families.”
Nicolai Jilek is the commissioner of Department of Criminal Justice Training. He says many of the officers named on the memorial started the training at his facility.
“We tell their families that we will never forget them and their sacrifice. It is in part, this monument and annual ceremony that we do that. This memorial symbolizes a prominent part of our daily existence here at DOCJT. For every day begins and ends with our staff and students passing by our memorial and paying it the reverence it deserves.”
The seven fallen officers are:
London Police Officer Travis D. Hurley: end of watch Jan. 27, 2022. Officer Hurley died from complications of COVID-19 contracted from exposure while on duty.
Ohio County Deputy James “Jerry” Critchelow: end of watch April 20, 2022. Deputy Critchelow died five days after suffering a heart attack while directing traffic in front of Ohio County High School.
Calloway County Chief Deputy Jody W. Cash: end of watch May 16, 2022. Deputy Cash was shot and killed in front of the Marshall County Courthouse by a prisoner who was carrying a concealed gun.
Prestonsburg Police Capt. Ralph H. Frasure: end of watch June 30, 2022. Capt. Frasure was shot and killed in Allen, Ky., by a man who was wanted for domestic violence offenses.
Floyd County Deputy William E. Petry: end of watch June 30, 2022. Deputy Petry was shot and killed in Allen, Ky., by a man who was wanted for domestic violence offenses.
Prestonsburg Police Officer Jacob R. Chaffins: end of watch July 1, 2022. Officer Chaffins was shot and killed in Allen, Ky., by a man who was wanted for domestic violence offenses.
London Police Officer Logan K. Medlock: end of watch Oct. 30, 2022. Officer Medlock was killed when a drunk driver struck his patrol car.
The two historical nominees are:
Harlan Police Officer Dixon A. Sasser: end of watch Oct. 13, 1918. Officer Sasser was shot and killed by a man who had just been released on bond for bootlegging.
Jefferson County Deputy Crockett M. Riddell, end of watch Jan. 13, 1933. Deputy Riddell was shot and killed while questioning four men who were loitering.
While the ceremony remembered officers who died last year, and two historical nominees, there was special mention of Scott County Deputy Caleb Conley who was killed during a traffic stop earlier this week.
Governor Beshear is running against Kentucky’s top law enforcement agent, Attorney General Daniel Cameron in November’s governor’s race.
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