RICHMOND, Ky. (LEX 18) — 17-year-old Allen Crump is gearing up for what will be the most important day of his life when he graduates from Harrison County High School on Friday, but his father won’t be there.
“It’s a lot about the firsts,” he said. “Getting to Christmas knowing he should be there, and we have graduation coming up tomorrow and that’s the big one knowing he should be there,” he continued.
Crump lost his father, Lieutenant Gary Crump of the Georgetown Police Department 11 months ago. Lt. Crump was one of 570 officers honored on Thursday outside the Criminal Justice Training Complex at Eastern Kentucky University. It’s the 22nd such ceremony which focuses on the officers, troopers, and deputies we’ve lost in the line of duty during the last year. And some who were killed in the line of duty decades ago were remembered as well.
“It takes a special kind of person to sign up and train for a career where you know you’ll be running into dangerous situations, not running away,” said Governor Beshear during his keynote address.
Allen Crump would agree.
“I’ve heard stories about how my father was as an officer and how excellent he was. It certainly does help and it’s an amazing feeling, but the pain never goes away,” he said.
Before surviving family members were presented with an American flag, Gov. Beshear told them that the sacrifices their loved ones made won’t ever be forgotten. He then made a special point of recognizing the sacrifice they made every time their family member put on the uniform and left home to begin a shift.
“We know that each and every one of the individuals we honor here today, earned their spot in heaven,” the governor said.
On Thursday, they earned their spot on this memorial where their names were etched in stone.
One law enforcement official who was not killed in the line of duty was recognized as well when Gov. Beshear mentioned Sheriff Kevin Corman of Jessamine County. Sheriff Corman died at home last weekend from what police say were natural causes.
