Trooper Hayden Phillips honored for Heroes Workout of the Day

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Officers and civilians alike across the nation honored Trooper Hayden Phillips on Thursday with their Workout of the Day.

Phillips lost his life on duty Sept. 28 of this year, but he did not lose his legacy. 

The first annual Phillips Hero Workout of the Day was held at Warren East on Thursday morning to honor his service and sacrifice. 

“He had the goal about this time last year getting in a really good physical condition. He never really liked getting into real good physical condition, so, in developing this workout with the Academy staff, I picked each and every workout that he disliked and that he hated. So, for every number represented, had to do with Hayden. He was our brother and it was all the work that he hated to do,” said Caleb Butler, a detective for the Kentucky State Police.

The workout began with 103 meters of lunges and was 29 minutes long, the age Phillips was about to be just two days after his death.

It included three strict pull-ups, six burpees and nine sit-ups for his badge number, 369.

Then, a one hundred-and-three-meter kettlebell farmer’s carry took place for his cadet class.

It ended with a 928-meter run for his end of watch date on Sept. 28. 

“He worked out, and he always wanted to work out and try to stay in shape for the job and stuff like that because he loved his job so much,” said Katan Parker, the public affairs officer for the Kentucky State Police.

He loved being a trooper. He loved being a husband, and he loved being a father.

Kentucky State Police have honored Phillips in many ways already, but this workout will continue for years to come.

“We loved him. He was our family. He was our brother. He was our friend and he was a trooper. So every year we want to show him and hope that he’s watching us from down here and actually see what we’re doing, see that we’re honoring him. Even though he probably wouldn’t like what we were doing, but if it was one of us, he’d be out there doing the same thing to honor us every year, and we’re going to do the same thing for him,” said Parker.

“From here on out. It will be completed every September 28th forever, by every cadet class and every trooper that wants to do it, forever,” said Butler.

As Phillips’ tattoo said, “Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.” His brothers are making sure his legacy never dies.