Memorial service remembers fallen officers

May 7—ASHLAND — Law enforcement personnel and community members honored fallen officers in the line of duty with a memorial service Tuesday.

Area authorities carried flowers and wore black and blue ribbons honoring dozens of police officers who have died since the 1900s from illnesses and in action. A focus of the memorial ceremony was a shooting in Floyd County that left three officers and a K-9 dead.

Ross Shurtleff, Prestonsburg's police chief, traveled "about an hour" from home and told the crowd congregated at the Union On Carter how the shooting in the Allen community forever changed their department.

"All of the Ashland police family are owed debt by me and my agency that I will never be able to repay for their unwavering support during the aftermath of the Allen shooting in June of 2022," he said.

Those who lost their lives in the 2022 mass shooting: William Petry, a 31-year law enforcement veteran with Floyd County Sheriff's Office; Ralph Frasure, who had 39 years of service in law enforcement, serving with the Prestonsburg Police since 1983; Jacob Chaffins, of the Prestonsburg Police Department; and K-9 Drago with Floyd County Sheriff's Office.

"I am honored to be here today," Ross said.

Throughout the ceremony, prayer, songs and a roll call of names honoring those who have served brought tears to some eyes in the room.

One of those people was Rita Bierly, memorial event coordinator and officer of 25 years. She said she lost "brothers and sisters" in the line of duty. For Bierly, events like these are important and essential to never forget the fallen who gave to their communities.

"To honor our lost, to remember the fallen and to pay respects to our brothers and sisters," she said.

Matt Perkins, Ashland's mayor, thanked officers tri-state-wide for their sacrifice for "safeguarding our democracy." He issued a proclamation reserving May 10-16 as Police Week in Ashland.

"It's good healing for the family and shows the family their sacrifices weren't vain. It lets them know that they are still remembered and part of the family," said Bill Hensley, Boyd County Jailer, after William Hensley, his father, was recognized for service to Ashland Police Department, Boyd County Sheriff's Department and Catlettsburg Police Department.

Teresa Church was in attendance at the ceremony and described it as "bittersweet." Hearing her husband's name, Bill Church, called and honored turned back the clock to precious memories, she said.

"Thinking about all the memories, the times he would come home. I am just so thankful that they remember him," she said.