MAYFIELD – Kentucky State Police Post 1 held memorial services at
two locations in Graves County as part of National Police Officer Memorial Day.
National Police Officer Memorial Day was designated by President John F. Kennedy in
1962 to be observed annually on May 15. As part of this day of remembrance, KSP
Post 1 Troopers and civilian staff gathered to place wreaths at the memorial outside
of KSP Post 1 in Graves County. The memorial contains the names of the two Troopers
who died in the line of duty in the Post 1 area.
Trooper Joseph “Cameron” Ponder, 31, was fatally shot on September 13, 2015, while
conducting a traffic stop on Interstate 24 in Lyon County. Upon receiving his
commission as a Trooper, he was assigned to Post 1, Mayfield, where his death came
only nine months into his career. Trooper Ponder is buried at Kentucky Veteran’s
Cemetery in Ft. Knox. In honor of his service and sacrifice, Interstate 24 in
Lyon County, from the Caldwell County line to its intersection with Kentucky Route
293, is designated as the “Trooper Joseph Cameron Ponder Memorial Highway.”
KSP Post 1 Troopers then traveled to Mayfield Memory Gardens to place a wreath at
the gravesite of Trooper James W. McNeely.
Trooper James W. McNeely, 37, drowned April 8, 1972, while on a flood rescue
mission in Franklin County. His death came one day after his sixteenth anniversary
of joining the Kentucky State Police. Trooper McNeely and KSP Water Patrol Officer
David C. Childs died when the boat in which they were riding was swept over the dam
at Lock 4 in Frankfort. Trooper McNeely’s body was never found. The two canoeists
for whom the officers were searching were later found safe. Trooper McNeely was
assigned to Post 12 Frankfort. Trooper McNeely was survived by his wife and three
children. His memorial in in Wingo. In honor of his service and sacrifice, a
five mile stretch of KY 339 in Graves County has been designated the “Trooper James
W. McNeely Memorial Highway”.
Trooper Eric K. Chrisman, 23, was fatally injured on June 23, 2015, in a vehicle
collision while en route to a reckless driving complaint on US 62 in Livingston
County. Upon receiving his commission as a Trooper, he was assigned to Post 1,
Mayfield, where his death came only six months into his career. Trooper Chrisman is
buried in Sand Spring Baptist Cemetery in Anderson County. In honor of his service
and sacrifice, KY 326 in Anderson County has been designated the “Trooper Eric K.
Chrisman Memorial Highway”.
The week of May 14-20, 2017, has been declared National Police Week by President
Donald J. Trump. During this, several services and other activities are held in
Washington, D.C. KSP Post 1 has Troopers attending those services in Washington,
D.C., throughout this week of remembrance.