Last week, a funeral was held in rural Kentucky to honor Jason Ellis, a K-9 officer who was killed in what authorities suspect was an ambush. The funeral was attended by over 1,000 people, including numerous police officers from nearby states. Fido, Ellis’ police dog, also attended the funeral and was seen placing his paw on the closed casket. Photographer Jonathan Palmer captured this moment in a poignant image.
On the day Ellis was gathering debris on a highway off-ramp in Bardstown, Kentucky, Fido was not by his side. Sadly, Ellis was shot several times, resulting in his death. Bardstown is a small town with a population of around 12,000, situated about 40 miles southeast of Louisville. Unfortunately, the perpetrator responsible for Ellis’ murder has yet to be caught, and the case remains unsolved.
Many K-9 officers gathered to pay their respects at the funeral, and as reported by the Herald Leader, their loyal canine companions could be heard howling from their cars.
As the honor guard was called, numerous officers stood up straight, while the police dogs at the event barked loudly in response to the 21-gun salute. The late Ellis, a member of the police force for six years, was honored by Bardstown Police Chief Rick McCubbin, who promised to track down the perpetrator responsible for his death.
As the chief, my duty is to lead and protect, but let me make it clear that you, our hero, are just as important. Jason, I want you to know that we will not give up or surrender. You can trust us to handle things from here on out. Ellis leaves behind his beloved wife, Amy, and their two young sons, Hunter (7) and Parker (6). Although his loss is devastating, we take solace in knowing that he lost his life doing what he was passionate about – serving as a police officer.
