Governor Andy Beshear is recognizing the Kentucky State Police Special Response Team for a dramatic rescue in Adair County earlier this year.
The incident happened April 20th at a home on Chestnut Grove Road in Columbia, where Adair County sheriff’s deputies responded to a disturbance.
Authorities say a deputy and another person came under gunfire from an armed man and were pinned down for several hours. Two other deputies attempted a rescue using ballistic shields, but they also came under fire and were forced to take cover.
Kentucky State Police troopers and other officers responding to the scene were also fired upon.
The KSP Special Response Team was then called in and used an armored Chevrolet Suburban as a mobile shield to reach the trapped deputies and civilian and bring all four to safety.
Click on link to view KSP scene video
Beshear praised the team’s bravery, saying the rescue was an example of “teamwork and selflessness” representing the best of Kentucky.
KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. said the incident also demonstrates the importance of giving law enforcement the equipment needed to safely respond to dangerous situations.
The armored Suburban was purchased by KSP in 2021 and is designed to provide protection against rifle fire, including armor-piercing rounds.