Deputy Richard Coyle

Deputy Coyle was shot and critically wounded on April 2 while serving emergency guardianship paperwork at a residence on KY‑365 near Sturgis, Kentucky. During the visit, gunfire was exchanged between law enforcement officers and the 60‑year‑old son of the woman who was the subject of the protective order. The son was killed in the exchange.

Deputy Coyle was transported to a hospital in critical condition and fought for his life for 28 days before succumbing to his injuries.

Deputy Coyle had retired from the Chicago Police Department after 28 years of service, most of which he spent as a member of the SWAT Team. After retirement, he moved to western Kentucky and joined the Crittenden County Sheriff’s Office, where he served as a School Resource Officer for two years until his death.