Justice and Public Safety Cabinet
Honoring Kentucky’s Fallen Heroes

DOCJT to add four names to the Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial

RICHMOND, Ky. – Amid the anxious excitement of a call and the thrill of the chase, the one goal of every law enforcement officer is simply to go home safely at the end of the shift. Unfortunately, along with the great responsibilities entrusted to each officer, come immense danger and self sacrifice. The Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial is a tribute to all Kentucky officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their communities.

The Department of Criminal Justice Training will add and dedicate four new names this year to the Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial during its annual ceremony to honor the officers who have been killed in the line of duty. The ceremony will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, May 18 at the Department of Criminal Justice Training in Richmond.

Three of the four names memorialized on the monument this year were killed in the line of duty during 2005, including Peter A. Grignon, Louisville Metro Police Department; Roger D. Lynch, Livingston County Sheriff’s Office and Larry D. Cottingham, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office.

Louisville Metro Police Chief Robert C. White will be the keynote speaker at the ceremony.

Officer Peter A. Grignon was killed March 23, 2005 when he was called to the 2600 block of Accasia Drive where there was a report of vehicle in a front yard. By the time he arrived, the car was gone, but upon investigating, he found the car on fire in field about two blocks away. Near the scene, Grignon found two men at about 6:35 a.m. One man shot Grignon in the neck and mouth. The shooter then turned the gun on himself and killed himself.

Deputy Roger D. Lynch was killed June 2, 2005 during a shoot out with a suspect at a residence in Ledbetter, about 10 miles southeast of Paducah. Lynch responded to a domestic violence complaint at the residence of Joseph Calender. Calender, armed with a semi-automatic assault rifle and a loaded handgun, was in the basement of the house. After meeting Lynch at the top of the basement stairway, Calender shot at the deputy, hitting him twice. Lynch then fired one round at Calender, hitting him in the chest and killing him. But before dying, Calender delivered a fatal bullet to Lynch’s head, shooting him in the face.

Sgt. Larry D. Cottingham suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after disarming a suicidal woman January 1, 2005. Cottingham had responded to the scene, calmed and disarmed the woman and then escorted her to the local emergency room. Shortly after returning to the station, Cottingham began feeling ill and was immediately transported to the hospital. He remained in intensive care until passing away two days later, on January 3, 2005.

The fourth name to be honored at this year’s ceremony was killed in the line of duty in 1928, but was only added to the national memorial this year.

Perry County Sheriff’s Deputy Mack Summers, was shot and killed December 23, 1928 while attempting to arrest an intoxicated person who was firing a gun.

Located prominently at the entrance of the Department of Criminal Justice Training, the Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial was first unveiled in 2000. The Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation, founded to build the unique monument, has since expanded its programs to include endowments to Kentucky peace officers and their families with educational, medical and emergency financial relief.

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