By Abigail Roberts
This week was not a typical one in the classroom for Lincoln County High School students in the Public Safety and Law Enforcement classes.
LCHS students spent some time during class Wednesday writing ‘thank you’ cards to the Kentucky State Police Post 3 and family of KSP Trooper Hayden Phillips.
Phillips, 30, was gunned down during a traffic stop on Sept. 28 in Warren County. He leaves behind a wife, three children and many colleagues in law enforcement who are mourning this week.
As part of his Public Safety Pathway classes, Stanford Police Captain Ryan Kirkpatrick said the group talked about the situation, team work and sacrifice and highlighted how law enforcement puts sacrifice above self.
Kirkpatrick’s students, along with officers with the Stanford Police Department, helped with the lowering of the flags at the high school and middle school on Tuesday, in honor of Phillips.
On Wednesday, students spent time in class writing letters to KSP Post 3 and to the family of Hayden Phillips.
“The kids have just been taking it all in about how these incidents rock the entire state,” Kirkpatrick said. “When one part of public safety hurts, we all hurt.”
LCSO Chief Deputy remembers friend, colleague
LCSO Chief Deputy Michael Mullins said he’s been at a loss of words since the news broke about Phillips.
“I’ll never forget when we met at training years back,” Mullins said. “And all the times we trained dogs together and talked back and forth about the job.”
Mullins said he will remember all of the times Phillips would call when he was coming through the area and how he always insisted Mullins apply for KSP.
“I knew how much you always wanted to be a Trooper and you served our state well buddy,” Mullins said on Facebook. “My heart breaks for your family, especially your wife and kids, but don’t you worry many, because you have a lot of brothers and sisters that will make sure they are taken care of.”
Mullins said Phillips has always been an inspiration to him and he admired his passion and commitment to serve and protect.
