Ky. Police Officer Killed by Accused Drunk Driver

A London Police Officer died Sunday morning after he was struck and hit by an alleged drunk driver on South Main Street in Laurel County, authorities said.

Officer Logan Kendall Medlock, 26, of Keavy, was killed in the line of duty, according to Scottie Pennington, public information officer with Kentucky State Police.

In a press conference Sunday, Pennington said the fatal crash happened around 12:49 a.m. in London when a Dodge pickup “T-boned” the police officer’s Dodge Challenger. He stated the pickup was traveling northbound on KY-229 and Medlock was traveling southbound.

The force of the impact knocked both vehicles into the A.R. Dyche Cemetery, damaging several headstones, according to police. The intersection was closed for most of Sunday morning while the KSP Critical Incident Response Team reconstructed the accident.

Medlock suffered life-threatening injuries in the crash, and was pronounced dead on scene by the Laurel County Coroner’s Office.

According to a press release, 36-year-old Casey Byrd, of Oneida, Tennessee, was arrested for aggravated charges of operating a vehicle under the influence, and murder of a police officer. Byrd was booked into the Laurel County Detention Center around 4:20 a.m. According to police, he did not sustain any injuries in the crash. Byrd is scheduled to appear in court at 11:25 a.m. Monday.

Pennington said investigators don’t yet know how fast the car was traveling or what the suspect’s blood alcohol content level was. He said the state’s Critical Incident Response Team was still on scene, and state police are still investigating.

“The critical incident response team is trying to find everything and put pieces of the puzzle back together to see what caused this accident, this tragedy, this loss to the community, and this department and the family,” Pennington said.

Community mourns Medlock

Pennington asked the community to respect the officer’s family and the department as they work through this loss.

“This department is hurting today. This community is hurting. They have lost one of the good guys,” Pennington said. “The next couple of days are going to be tough on the family and the department.”

Chief of London Police, Travis Dotson, said the department is “heartbroken.”

“(Medlock) was an outstanding police officer and we love him and we are heartbroken,” he said. “I would like to thank KSP and our sheriff’s office for really stepping up and helping us at this time and the amazing amount of people reaching out to us already is unbelievable. We’re just in a horrible time of shock and disbelief and we appreciate you all being respectful to us. This is a great loss to this community and we will never forget.”

Medlock was a legacy police officer with the London department for three years. His father, Randy Medlock, is the city’s assistant chief of police. Medlock leaves behind a wife, Courtney, and a 5-year-old son, Brantley.

According to the city of London website, Medlock received the Meritorious Service Award in May 2021 for his genuine concern for the London community, providing exemplary professional service, and safety of his fellow officers ensured a job well achieved. Medlock also received the Governor’s Award for Impaired Driving Enforcement. Medlock was also a volunteer firefighter with the Keavy Volunteer Fire Department.

Following the news of Medlock’s death, colleagues of Medlock’s and other agencies offered condolences online.

London police officer James Williams went to the police academy with Medlock and both were hired on at the same time in 2019.

“He was always willing to help people,” Williams said. “He was motivated and dedicated to protecting the public. Being a police officer was all he wanted be, what he was meant to be.”

Governor Andy Beshear offered his condolences and said news of Medlock’s death made for a “tough morning” in the commonwealth.

“This is a tough morning for our commonwealth with news that London Police Officer Logan Medlock was killed in a car accident. Britainy and I ask all of Kentucky to join us in praying for his family and the entire London Police Department,” Beshear wrote.

The Lexington Police Department tweeted and said days like today are hard to put into words.

“Our deepest, heartfelt condolences, thoughts, and prayers are with the London Police Department, London community, and friends, family, and co-workers of Officer Logan Medlock. Days like today are difficult to put into words and we are deeply saddened to learn of his passing.”

The Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police tweeted, “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the London, KY Police Department as they mourn the tragic loss of one of their own.”

The Campbell County Emergency Management also posted in honor of Medlock.

“We are saddened to hear of the loss of London Police Department Officer Logan Medlock. Officer Medlock served as a Police Officer for the City of London, Kentucky, and he also served as a Volunteer Firefighter for Keavy, KY.”

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