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Incident
Detective Darrell Phelps was shot and killed while he and another officer moved through a marijuana field. Detective Phelps was investigating illegal cultivation of marijuana in Edmonson County The suspect was convicted of Detective Phelps' murder and sentenced to 50 years in prison on September 4, 1981, and was released on February 13, 2013 after serving the minimum expiration sentence. Detective Phelps had been with the agency for 12 years and was survived by his wife, daughter and son. He is buried at Union Cemetery in Quality, Kentucky. In honor of his service and sacrifice, an eight-mile stretch of Kentucky highway 1153 in Butler County has been designated the Detective Darrell V. Phelphs Memorial Highway.
Survivors
Detective Phelps had been with the agency for 12 years and was survived by his wife, daughter and son.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Phelps gave the Kentucky State Police 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Kentucky. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Phelps.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
KY State Police has lost 30 officers; 13 of them killed feloniously.
Darrell is one of 756 officers killed feloniously in KY, 76.8% of the 984 remembered there.
Darrell is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Darrell is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1981, 1 officer at KY State Police was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 12 years on record. The heaviest was 1979, with 2.
In 1981, 1 officer in KY was killed feloniously, the 112th heaviest of 147 years on record. The heaviest was 1926, with 22.
In 1981, 126 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 39th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1981, 152 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 32nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Darrell was 34. Of the 13 killed feloniously at KY State Police whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 34; the middle age was 29. Darrell had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Darrell was 34. Of the 669 killed feloniously in KY whose age is recorded, half were between 33 and 49; the middle age was 41. Darrell had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Darrell was 34. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Darrell had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Darrell was 34. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Darrell had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 7.7% of these deaths at KY State Police; December holds the most, 15.4%. Fridays: 7.7%.
August holds 8.3% of these deaths in KY; December holds the most, 11.5%. Fridays: 12.4%.
August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
August holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 43.3% of all 30 deaths at KY State Police, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 30.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 76.8% of all 984 deaths in KY, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 14.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
KY State Police has 30 officers remembered here, Darrell among them.
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Harold J. Toll
Nov 14, 1948
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Robert Renaker Miller
Feb 14, 1951
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Lee Trebu Huffman
May 8, 1953
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Herbert C. Bush
Oct 11, 1958
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William Everett Tevis
May 26, 1963
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Elmer Mobley, Jr.
May 28, 1964
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Cecil Walter Uzzle
May 28, 1964
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Delano G. Powell
Jul 8, 1965
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Mack Edward Brady
Nov 9, 1966
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William Harrel Barrett
Dec 19, 1971
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James Willard McNeely
Apr 8, 1972
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Walter Orville Thurtell
Sep 29, 1972
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Joe Ward, Jr.
Apr 23, 1973
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William Carter Smith
Apr 26, 1973
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John Wayne Hutchinson
Jun 4, 1975
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Bobby Allen McCoun, Jr.
Sep 1, 1975
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William Francis Pickard
Jan 21, 1976
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Willis Durwood Martin
Apr 26, 1977
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Clinton Eugene Cunningham
Feb 11, 1979
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Edward Ray Harris
Nov 7, 1979
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Jerome Scott Clifton
Oct 1, 1980
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Darrell Vendl Phelps
Aug 7, 1981
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Johnny Montague Edrington
Dec 20, 1988
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Johnny Gordon Adkins
Nov 24, 1995
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Jonathan Kyle Leonard
Dec 19, 2006
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Anson Blake Tribby
Jan 22, 2013
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Eric Keith Chrisman
Jun 23, 2015
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David Ray Gibbs
Aug 7, 2015
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Joseph Cameron Ponder
Sep 13, 2015
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Hayden Phillips
Sep 28, 2026
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 12-W
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