Ky. Group Plans First Responder Memorial

Feb. 29--A permanent tribute to honor Daviess County's emergency responders who have died in the line of duty is in the works.

The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 16 is planning and raising money for what it's calling the Emergency Service Memorial Project.

According to James Wyatt, the FOP's board state trustee, the group has already received permission from Judge-Executive Al Mattingly to place the memorial on the Daviess County Courthouse lawn.

"That was the easy part," said Wyatt about securing the spot. "It will not only be for police officers but firefighters and EMS," Wyatt said. "(EMS) is out there on the front lines just like anybody else."

Mattingly said he discussed the proposal with the commissioners and the groundskeeper prior to donating the space.

"We have other memorials on the courthouse lawn, and I felt this would be appropriate as well," Mattingly said.

The hurdle is raising money for the estimated $40,000 to $60,000 memorial.

Wyatt, who is a sergeant with the Daviess County Detention Center, said the FOP began raising money and planning for the project about two years ago, but he expects it to be at least another two years before it becomes a reality.

"They're expensive," Wyatt said. "So probably what we'll do is get the base done to set up out there, and maybe engrave the names. And then as we raise more money, we'll be able to put the actual memorial statue on the base."

So far, the FOP has five names from the Owensboro Police Department and one from the Daviess County Detention Center who will be inscribed on the memorial.

From OPD:

--Patrolman Aquilla White, 24, was shot to death Nov. 3, 1896, during "a period of civil disorder."

--Patrolman Lee Barker, 62, died Feb. 14, 1912, after suffering a fatal heart attack while investigating a burglary.

--Patrolman J. Coleman, 46, was shot to death June 1, 1912, while attempting to arrest a horse thief.

--Edward R. Froedge was killed in an automobile accident during a pursuit Nov. 4, 1956.

--Larry K. Baggett, 43, died Oct. 26, 1987, after suffering a fatal heart attack while on duty.

From the Detention Center:

--Jailer William J. Lucas, 49, was shot to death July 13, 1884, while attempting to protect the jail from a mob that was trying to remove an inmate for hanging.

From the Owensboro Fire Department:

John Thornberry died in 1927. No other information available.

Peter Cooper died in 1933. No other information available.

--Walter Freeman suffered a major heart attack Aug. 8, 1985, shortly after leaving a meeting at City Hall.

From the Daviess County Fire Department:

--A.D. Coy died of a heart attack Sept. 9, 1971, while fighting a residential fire.

Wyatt said the memorial, however, won't solely be for the emergency responders who died in the past.

"Unfortunately, we'll have to leave room for future names," he said.

Although the FOP is looking to place a bronze statue on the base, a decision hasn't been made on what it will look like.

Wyatt said the goal is for it to incorporate all of the emergency responders into the statue in some way.

"They all wear different uniforms," Wyatt said. "...So you have to look and say, what's the uniform going to be? You don't want to hurt somebody else's feelings."

The FOP will be conducting fundraisers throughout the year for the project.

In the meantime, donations can be made by going to the FOP's website at https://fop16.com/memorial-page.html.

Copyright 2016 - Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky.