Governor Matt Bevin has proclaimed that U.S. and state flags be flown at half-staff from sunrise Sunday until sunset Monday as a mark of respect for a Pikeville Police officer shot and killed this week. Officer Scotty Hamilton, a 12-year veteran of the Pikeville Police Department, was killed in the line of duty late Tuesday evening in Pike County.
Governor Bevin says in a release he is grateful for the men and women who lay their lives on the line to protect our communities every day and night. He went on to ask everyone to pray for the God’s grace and healing for the community of Pikeville, the local and state police officers involved, and the family of Officer Hamilton.
Kentucky State Police say Officer Hamilton and Trooper Matt Martin were conducting a criminal patrol on Hurricane Creek late Tuesday when they encountered a suspicious vehicle in the area. Officers spoke with the vehicle’s occupants and then they split up to canvass the area around a nearby residence for possible subjects on foot. A short time later, police say gunshots were fired near the residence and Trooper Martin found Officer Hamilton had sustained a fatal gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead a the scene by the Pike County Coroner’s Office. The perpetrator was not found at the scene and an extensive search was conducted by multiple law enforcement agencies.
State Police say the suspect, John Russell Hall was taken into custody around 11:00 Thursday morning in the Betsy Layne area. Hall reportedly lived in the Hurricane Creek area of Pikeville.
Governor Bevin encourages all Kentuckians, businesses, organizations, and government agencies to join this show of support for Officer Hamilton’s family and the community of Pikeville.
Officer Hamilton is survived by his wife and an infant daughter.
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