Kentucky State Police Post 3 honors fallen troopers with wreath-laying ceremony

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – On Wednesday, the Kentucky State Police Post Three says it traveled to lay wreaths on graves of fallen troopers for National Police Memorial Week.

According to Trooper Katan Parker, public affairs officer for KSP Post Three, the following law enforcement members were honored:

Trooper William H. Barrett

Trooper William H. Barrett was 35 when he died on December 19, 1971, when he was ambushed and shot in Warren County, according to Parker. Barrett was assigned to Post Three Bowling Green and had served with KSP for four years. Barrett was survived by his two sons, Mark and Mike. In honor of his service and sacrifice, a five-mile stretch of U.S. 68/80 in Warren County has been designated the Trooper William H. Barrett Memorial Highway.

Patrolman James Powell Hays and Patrolman Robert Rowland

Patrolman James Powell Hays and Patrolman Robert Rowland were fatally shot while attempting to question two brothers about a stolen vehicle at the garage they operated in Franklin, Parker says. One brother reportedly was sentenced to life, while the other was sentenced to six years in prison. The brother released after six years went on to murder Deputy Sheriff Melvin Flemming of the Davidson County, Tennessee Sheriff’s Department and Detective Charles Mundy of the Nashville, Tennessee Police Department, according to Parker.

Parker says the two were murdered after Fleming tried to arrest the man in a restaurant for public intoxication. The man was reportedly fatally shot in a shootout.

Officials say Hays had served with the Kentucky Highway Patrol for five months. He was survived by his wife and three daughters. Rowland served with the Kentucky Highway Patrol for three months. He was survived by his wife and two children.

Lieutenant William C. Smith

Lt. William C. Smith was 45 when he died on April 26, 1973. According to Parker, Smith died due to gunshot wounds sustained on November 10, 1973 during an arrest attempt involving a murder suspect in Warren County.

Officials say Smith was assigned to KSP Post Three and was a 24-year veteran of KSP. Smith was survived by his wife and three children. His son, Tommy, went on to serve as a KSP trooper.

In honor of his service and sacrifice, authorities say a portion of U.S. 31-W in Warren County has been designated the Lt. William C. Smith Memorial Highway.

Trooper Walter O. Thurtell

Trooper Walter O. Thurtell was 42 when he died on September 29, 1972.

Authorities say Thurtell died from injuries sustained in a vehicle accident while traveling to a call for assistance in Logan County. According to Parker, Thurtell was assigned to Post Three Bowling Green and was a 15-year veteran of KSP.

Thurtell was survived by his wife and daughter. In honor of his service and sacrifice, a 14-mile stretch of Kentucky 431 in Logan County has been designated the Trooper Walter O. Thurtell Memorial Highway.

Detective Darrell V. Phelps

Detective Darrell V. Phelps was 34 when he died on August 7, 1981 while investigating illegal cultivation of marijuana in Edmonson County.

Phelps was assigned to Post Three Bowling Green and was an 11-year veteran of KSP. According to Parker, Phelps was survived by his wife and two children. His son, Darren, went on to serve as a KSP trooper. In honor of his service and sacrifice, an eight-mile stretch of KY 1153 in Butler County has been designated the Detective Darrel V. Phelps Memorial Highway.