Troopers will place a wreath at Post 1 to honor Trooper Eric K. Chrisman and Trooper Joseph ‘Cameron’ Ponder, at 1:00 P.M. KSP will then travel to the Mayfield Memory Gardens Cemetery to lay a wreath for Trooper James W. McNeely.
Chrisman, age 23, was fatally injured on June 23, 2015 in a vehicle collision while en route to a reckless driving complaint on US 62 in Livingston County. Upon receiving his commission as a Trooper, he was assigned to Post 1, Mayfield, where his death came only six months into his career. Trooper Chrisman is buried in Sand Spring Baptist Cemetery in Anderson County. In honor of his service and sacrifice, KY 326 in Anderson County has been designated the “Trooper Eric K. Chrisman Memorial Highway.”
Ponder, age 31, was fatally shot on September 13, 2015 while conducting a traffic stop on Interstate 24 in Lyon County. Upon receiving his commission as a Trooper, he was assigned to Post 1, Mayfield, where his death came only nine months into his career. Trooper Ponder is buried at Kentucky Veteran’s Cemetery in Ft. Knox, KY. In honor of his service and sacrifice, Interstate 24 in Lyon County, from the Caldwell County line to its intersection with Kentucky Route 293, is designated as the “Trooper Joseph Cameron Ponder Memorial Highway.”
McNeely, age 37, drowned April 8, 1972 while on a flood rescue mission in Franklin County. His death came one day after his sixteenth anniversary of joining the Kentucky State Police. Trooper McNeely and KSP Water Patrol Officer David C. Childs died when the boat in which they were riding was swept over the dam at Lock 4 in Frankfort. Trooper McNeely’s body was never found. The two canoeists for whom the officers were searching were later found safe. Trooper McNeely was assigned to Post 12 Frankfort. Trooper McNeely was survived by his wife and three children. His memorial in Wingo, KY. In honor of his service and sacrifice, a five mile stretch of KY 339 in Graves County has been designated the “Trooper James W. McNeely Memorial Highway.”
