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Trooper

Joseph Cameron Ponder

KY State Police — Frankfort, KY

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch September 13, 2015

Age 31

Tour of Duty 9 mo

The Vigil Panel 165 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 28

Incident

Trooper Cameron Ponder was shot and killed after conducting a vehicle stop on I-24, near Lamasco, at approximately 10:20 pm.

Trooper Ponder was on patrol when he observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation. The vehicle fled during the stop, leading Trooper Ponder on a nine-mile pursuit. During the chase, the driver abruptly stopped his vehicle, causing Trooper Ponder to crash into it. The man then exited his vehicle and opened fire, killing Trooper Ponder.

The subject fled the scene on foot but was located in a wooded area several hours later by members of the Kentucky State Police SRT. He was shot and killed when he pointed his weapon at the officers.

Trooper Ponder was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the Kentucky State Police for nine months, assigned to the Mayfield Station.

Survivors

He is survived by his fiancee, parents, three siblings, and grandparents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-5568DADD
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Joseph is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Trooper Ponder served with the Kentucky State Police.
Thank you for your service to the people of Kentucky. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department KY State Police

Type State Police

Location Frankfort, KY

Platform Identity kysp.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 13, 2015

Tour of Duty 9 mo

Age 31

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Military Service

Joseph Cameron Ponder served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Trooper Joseph Cameron Ponder is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.

In KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 76.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At KY State Police, 12 of 29 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 41.4% of this agency's fallen.

KY State Police

of 29 officers

41.4% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,756 officers

0% Felonious