Kentucky State Police Honor Fallen Troopers

FRANKFORT, KY – On Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at 10:00 AM, KSP Post 12 will place a wreath at Officer Jason Cammack’s gravesites, Trooper James’s gravesites McNeely, and Officer David Childs to honor their service to the Commonwealth. At 10:00 AM, we will start at  Frankfort Cemetery for Officer Cammack, and Officer Childs, then move to Post 12, at the flag pole for Trooper McNeely.

Starting at 4:00 pm, KSP Post 12 will be placing a wreath at the gravesites of Trooper Harold Toll, Trooper Bobby McCoun, and Trooper Eric Chrisman to honor their service to the Commonwealth. We will first meet at the Lawrenceburg Cemetery to honor Trooper McCoun and then move to Sand Springs Baptist Church for Trooper Toll and Trooper Chrisman.

Trooper Harold J. Toll, age 34, was fatally injured on November 14, 1948, in an automobile accident en route to a call for assistance in Anderson County. He was assigned to Post 12 Frankfort. His death came only three months after being commissioned as an officer with the Kentucky State Police. Trooper Toll is buried at Sandspring Baptist Cemetery in Anderson County, Ky. In honor of his service and sacrifice, a five-mile stretch of the U.S. 271 bypass in Anderson County has been designated the Trooper Harold J. Toll Memorial Highway.

Trooper James W. McNeely, age 37, drowned while on a flood rescue mission in Franklin County. His death came one day after his sixteenth anniversary of joining the Kentucky State Police. Trooper McNeely and KSP Water Patrol Officer David C. Childs died when the boat in which they were riding was swept over the dam at Lock 4 in Frankfort. Trooper McNeely’s body was never found. The two canoeists for whom the officers were searching were later found safe. Trooper McNeely was assigned to Post 12 Frankfort. Trooper McNeely was survived by his wife and three children. His memorial is in Wingo, Ky. In honor of his service and sacrifice, a five-mile stretch of KY 339 in Graves County has been designated the Trooper James W. McNeely Memorial Highway.

Kentucky State Police Water Patrol Officer* David Thomas Childs, age 39, perished along with Trooper James McNeely on April 8, 1972. The officers were searching for two Louisville teens reported missing on a canoe trip when a swift current in the rain-swollen Kentucky River swept their boat over the Lock 4 dam in Frankfort, Ky. The missing youths were found later unhurt. His body was recovered from the Ohio River near Tell City, Ind. He is buried in the Frankfort Cemetery. In honor of his service and sacrifice, KY 1784, Coffee Tree Road has been designated “Officer David T. Childs Memorial Highway”. In 1968, responsibility for the enforcement of boating safety laws was transferred from the Kentucky Dept. of Public Safety’s Boating Division to the Division of State Police. In November of 1972, responsibility for boating safety was transferred to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

Trooper Bobby A. McCoun Jr., age 23, died Sept. 1, 1975, as the result of an accidental shooting at the Pikeville jail in Pike County. Trooper McCoun was assigned to Post 9 Pikeville and served with the Kentucky State Police for two years. He is buried at the Lawrenceburg Cemetery in Anderson County, Ky. In honor of his service and sacrifice, a five-mile stretch of US 127 in Anderson County has been designated the Trooper Bobby A. McCoun Memorial Highway.

Officer Jason Cammack, the first KVE Officer killed in the line of duty, died on Easter Sunday, April 23, 2000. Officer Cammack was on routine patrol on I-64 eastbound near the Midway exit in Woodford County when he crossed the median and accelerated into the westbound lane in an apparent attempt to stop a speeding vehicle. Officer Cammack lost control of his vehicle, struck a rock embankment, and died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. In honor of his service and sacrifice, US 60 in Franklin County, from US 460 to the Woodford line is known as the “Officer Jason Cammack Memorial Highway.”

Trooper Eric K. Chrisman, age 23, was fatally injured on June 23, 2015, in a vehicle collision while en route to a reckless driving complaint on US 62 in Livingston County. Upon receiving his commission as a Trooper, he was assigned to Post 1, Mayfield, where his death came only six months into his career. Trooper Chrisman is buried at Sand Spring Baptist Cemetery in Anderson County. In honor of his service and sacrifice, KY 326 in Anderson County has been designated the “Trooper Eric K. Chrisman Memorial Highway” in November of 2016.

Ways to contact KSP:

Phone: 1-800-222-5555

KSP App: available on the App Store and Google Play

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Kentucky-State-Police-103979825675/?fref=ts

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