Plaque dedicated Bardstown police Officer Jason Ellis
June 25, 2013 5:20 PM EDT
Bardstown, KY – It has been one month since Bardstown Police Officer Jason Ellis was ambushed and killed.
The community came together Tuesday to dedicate a special plaque in his memory. Ellis’ vehicle along with photos and flowers have been temporary ways to remember him at the Bardstown Police Department, but the plaque is expected to memorialize him for years to come. Keith Monument Company handed over a granite plaque to fallen Ellis’ wife, Amy Ellis, so she, along with the community, can hold onto his memory forever.
“We are dedicated to him, and we are going to remember him in our hearts and everything,” said Bardstown resident Cathy Clark. Among the dozens that turned out for the dedication ceremony many were strangers, like Clark and Debbie Watts. They didn’t know Jason Ellis or his family but feel bonded by the burden the community now carries. “We try to look out for each other in the community,” Watts said.
For officers, the plaque will serve as a reminder. “We can never get in a comfort zone, can’t let our guard down, no matter where you police, in a large city, small town, policing is dangerous,” Bardstown Police Chief Rick McCubbin said. McCubbin said he plans to dedicate an entire wall to Ellis inside the Police Department. He said it will be filled will photos of Ellis, and they plan to get started on that in the fall.
Authorities are working around the clock searching for Ellis’ killers. At this point, they have no leads but are considering every possibility as they sift through countless tips.