Lt. Gov. Coleman, Kentucky State Police Remember 39 Fallen Heroes During Memorial Service

Annual memorial service recognizes fallen members of Kentucky State Police Force, Kentucky Highway Patrol and Kentucky State Police

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 21, 2026) – Today, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman joined the Kentucky State Police (KSP) to honor the 39 troopers, officers and patrolmen who lost their lives in the line of duty, reflecting a continued commitment to preserving the legacy of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the commonwealth.

“The 39 fallen heroes we honor today left behind families that were forever changed by the sacrifice of their loved ones,” Lt. Gov. Coleman said. “We remain committed to being there for every single family, no matter when their loved one was lost, because their sacrifice for Kentucky is one we promise to never forget.”

This year’s ceremony marks a significant moment in the agency’s history, as ongoing historical research efforts identified two additional Kentucky Highway Patrolmen: James D. Stevens, who died from a gunshot wound on March 26, 1937; and Frank B. Bell, who died in an automobile crash on Jan. 2, 1939.

The inclusion of Patrolmen Stevens and Bell and the discovery of the Kentucky State Police Force bring the total number of fallen heroes recognized during the annual memorial service to 39.

“As time passes, our responsibility to remember does not diminish; it grows stronger,” KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. said. “By uncovering and recognizing these two additional patrolmen, we reaffirm our promise that no sacrifice will ever be forgotten. Their stories are now forever part of our agency’s history and our mission moving forward.”

The research also confirmed that two patrolmen who had previously been listed as members of the Kentucky Highway Patrol instead served as officers of the Kentucky State Police Force – the commonwealth’s first formally centralized state police agency, active from 1934 to 1936.

The two Kentucky State Police Force patrolmen who died in the line of duty, including their end-of-watch dates, are:

• Patrolman James P. Hayes: Dec. 21, 1935; and
• Patrolman Robert L. Rowland: Dec. 22, 1935.

The six Kentucky Highway Patrolmen who have died in the line of duty, including their end-of-watch dates, are:

• Captain Vernon Snell: Feb. 20, 1937;
• Patrolman James D. Stevens: March 26, 1937;
• Patrolman Moses H. Littrell: March 14, 1938;
• Patrolman Frank B. Bell: Jan. 2, 1939;
• Patrolman Houston Greene: May 18, 1944; and
• Patrolman Vadas G. Richardson: Oct. 7, 1944.

The 31 troopers and officers who have died in the line of duty, including their end-of-watch dates, are:

• Trooper Harold J. Toll: Nov. 14, 1948;
• Trooper Robert R. Miller: Feb. 14, 1951;
• Trooper Lee T. Huffman: May 8, 1953;
• Trooper Herbert C. Bush: Oct. 11, 1958;
• Trooper William E. Tevis: May 26, 1963;
• Trooper Elmer Mobley, Jr.: May 28, 1964;
• Trooper Cecil W. Uzzle: May 28, 1964;
• Trooper Delano G. Powell: July 8, 1965;
• Trooper Mack E. Brady: Nov. 9, 1966;
• Trooper William H. Barrett: Dec. 19, 1971;
• Trooper James W. McNeely: April 8, 1972;
• Officer David T. Childs: April 8, 1972;
• Trooper Walter O. Thurtell: Sept. 29, 1972;
• Trooper Joseph Ward, Jr.: April 23, 1973;
• Lieutenant William C. Smith: April 26, 1973;
• Trooper John W. Hutchinson: June 4, 1975;
• Trooper Bobby A. McCoun Jr.: Sept. 1, 1975;
• Trooper William F. Pickard: Jan. 21, 1976;
• Lieutenant Willis D. Martin: April 26, 1977;
• Trooper Clinton E. Cunningham: Feb. 11, 1979;
• Trooper Edward R. Harris: Nov. 7, 1979;
• Trooper Jerome S. Clifton: Oct. 1, 1980;
• Detective Darrell V. Phelps: Aug. 7, 1981;
• Trooper Johnny M. Edrington: Dec. 20, 1988;
• Trooper Johnny G. Adkins: Nov. 24, 1995;
• Officer Jason W. Cammack: April 23, 2000;
• Trooper Jonathan K. Leonard: Dec. 19, 2006;
• Trooper Anson B. Tribby: Jan. 22, 2013;
• Trooper Eric K. Chrisman: June 23, 2015;
• Sergeant David R. Gibbs: Aug. 7, 2015; and
• Trooper J. Cameron Ponder: Sept. 13, 2015.

The annual memorial ceremony included a wreath-laying presentation conducted by Lt. Gov. Coleman, Commissioner Burnett and members of the KSP Honor Guard. The wreath was provided by the Kentucky State Police Foundation, whose continued support helps ensure the legacy of Kentucky’s fallen law enforcement officers endures.

To learn more about Kentucky’s fallen troopers and officers, visit the Kentucky State Police Fallen Trooper and Officer Memorial webpage.

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KSP Honor Guard members stand with the Fallen Memorial Wreath.

KSP Troopers salute during Memorial Service.

Lt. Gov. Coleman speaks with the daughter of KSP fallen hero, Trooper Harold J. Toll.