Russell County Sheriff’s Deputy Josh Phipps, a Columbia resident, was shot and killed Monday night as officers were searching for a man who fled following a traffic stop.
Phipps was raised in Adair County and is the son of Donnie and Pam Phipps. Pam is the librarian at the Adair County Elementary Center.
The Kentucky State Police Critical Incident Response Team is investigating the shooting, and a lot of details about the incident are still unclear. What is clear, however, is that Phipps was loved and respected by his community and fellow officers.
Adair County Sheriff Josh Brockman and Deputy Josh Durbin were in Russell County assisting with the call when Phipps was killed. Brockman was heard making a call to Adair County 911 dispatch and frantically yelling, “Deputy down, deputy down, call Russell County and relay we need an ambulance at the trailer court.”
Brockman, a former EMT, performed CPR and rode in the ambulance to the Russell County Hospital with EMS.
Brockman told the Community Voice that it is still unclear what happened with Phipps during the minutes before his death. Officers were canvassing the trailer park on Bluebird Dr. in the city limits of Russell Springs when they realized Phipps was not visible to the others and they began searching for him.
Russell County Sheriff Derek Polston posted on social media that Phipps was taking part in a search for a suspect that had fled on foot.
“Gunfire was exchanged after locating the Suspect, and Deputy Phipps was struck by Gunfire, and Later passed away at the Russell County Hospital,” Polston wrote. “Deputy Josh Phipps died a Hero, doing what he liked, Protecting and Serving Russell County. “
Police say the suspect also died from gunshot wounds but have not identified him.
Brockman and Columbia Police Chief Evan Burton both tried to recruit Phipps to come to work for them during his three years with the Russell County Sheriff’s Office. Phipps started as a police office in Louisville. He moved back home and his family wanted him to come back to this area where they believed he would be safer, officers said.
Brockman said he joked with Phipps by writing Adair on a piece of paper and covering up the word Russell on Phipps’ sheriff’s department cruiser.
Burton is originally from Russell County and worked for the Russell County Sheriff’s Office for nearly 10 years before moving to the Columbia Police Department. He headed to the scene in Russell County and ended up helping transport vehicles from the scene to the hospital to assist his fellow officers.
Burton named multiple agencies that showed up to offer assistance, which was followed by a long caravan as Phipps’ body was taken to the medical examiner’s office in Frankfort Monday night.
“All these agencies from federal, state and local levels (showing) support, and that's what they need right now. Russell County, especially the Sheriff's Office and Phipps’ family, are knowing they're not in this alone. When it comes to law enforcement, we're together as one. And that's the way it needs to be.”
Brockman has volunteered to provide scheduling for the Russell County Sheriff’s Office and officers from across the state are signing up to take shifts so no Russell County officers have to work for the next week. Burton and Columbia Police Officer Ethan Pike have both lived and worked in Russell County and have offered to help as officers unfamiliar with the area respond to calls.
“Myself and Ethan probably know Russell County like the back of our hand,” Burton said. “So, we’re always available for assistance.”
Brockman referred to the call he made to 911 as “the hardest call I’ve ever made.” Brockman was scheduled to complete his retirement paperwork the following day, a day that should have been a happy closure to a distinguished career.
Instead, just 13 days away from retirement, he experienced the one thing he prayed would never happen as an officer: losing a fellow officer.
Brockman called Phipps, “a good boy.”
“He was a good guy. We work out together at the gym off and on. Hung out together every now and then when he would be passing through,” Brockman said, adding that Phipps had stopped to provide backup on calls when he was in the area.
Gov. Andy Beshear, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell and others have issued remarks concerning Phipps’ death.
“His sacrifice is a somber reminder of the debt we owe our courageous law enforcement officers. They are the first to run toward fire. And the first to put themselves in harm's way to keep us all safe,” McConnell said. “Today, I know the entire Commonwealth is holding Sheriff's Deputy Phipps in our thoughts and our prayers. So, I ask my colleagues to join me in sending our deepest sympathy to Russell County and the Phipps family as they mourn his loss.”
Gov. Beshear said he and his wife, Britainy, “ask all of Kentucky to join us in praying for his family, fellow law enforcement officers and the entire Russell County community.”
Funeral services are expected to be coordinated by Stotts-Phelps-McQueary Funeral Home in Columbia. Arrangements and any updates from KSP will be posted at adairvoice.com.
