In honor of Kentucky conservation officers who have died in the line of duty, the public is invited to join relatives, state officials and representatives from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and the Kentucky Conservation Officers’ Association for a memorial ceremony at 11 a.m. (ET) on May 20, 2024.
The ceremony will be held outdoors at the Kentucky Conservation Officers Memorial on Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s main campus in Frankfort. Ten officers have died in the line of duty since the agency was established in 1912: Elijah Roberts, James R. Claxton, John C. Martin, James Brady McClain, Raymond Birdsong, David T. Childs, Denver Tabor, Robert C. Banker, Bernard Dean Ratliff, and Douglas W. Bryant.
“We are thankful for the service of all the men and women who serve Kentucky Fish and Wildlife and who protect Kentucky’s abundant fish and wildlife resources,” said Rich Storm, commissioner of Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “The 10 law enforcement officers lost in the course of this duty will forever be remembered in our hearts and memories with the deepest appreciation.”
Speakers:
Commissioner Rich Storm, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
Col. Jeremy McQueary, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement Division
Maj. David Marques, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement Division
Officer Glenn Griffie, Kentucky Conservation Officers’ Association
What: Ceremony honoring Kentucky conservation officers who have died in the line of duty since 1912
When: Monday, May 20, 2024, at 11 a.m. (ET)
Where: Kentucky Conservation Officers Memorial on Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s main campus at 1 Sportsman’s Lane in Frankfort. The memorial is located between the large, two-story brick Administration Building and the Salato Wildlife Education Center about ½ mile north of the campus entrance. The entrance is located off U.S. 60, approximately 1½ miles west of U.S. 127.
For more information, visit the department’s website (fw.ky.gov) or call 1-800-858-1549, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (ET) weekdays, excluding holidays.