Last week, a funeral was held in rural Kentucky to honor Jason Ellis, a K-9 officer who was killed in what is suspected to be an ambush. Over 1,000 people, including many police officers from neighboring states, attended the funeral to pay their respects to the fallen officer.
Ellis’ loyal K-9 partner, Fido, was also present at the ceremony and was seen placing his paw on the casket. This poignant moment was captured in a heart-wrenching photograph taken by Jonathan Palmer.
On the 25th of May, when Ellis was collecting debris on a highway off-ramp in Bardstown, Kentucky, he was shot multiple times, but his dog Fido was not with him at the time. Bardstown is a small community of approximately 12,000 people located 40 miles southeast of Louisville, and the culprit behind Ellis’ murder is still unknown.
Many other K-9 officers were present at the funeral, as reported by the Herald Leader, and their furry companions mourned from their parked vehicles with audible howls.
Upon the summoning of the honor guard, hundreds of officers stood at attention while the approximately 60 police dogs present barked in unison with the guards’ 21-gun salute. The late Ellis, who served for six years on the police force, was honored by Bardstown Police Chief Rick McCubbin, who declared his determination to capture the perpetrator responsible for Ellis’ death.
As the chief, I may be in charge, but let me tell you, you are the real hero here. And don’t worry, I won’t give up without a fight,” reassured McCubbin to Jason. “Jason, my buddy, take some time off. We’ll take care of everything from now on.” Sadly, Ellis leaves behind his wife, Amy, and two young boys, Hunter, aged 7, and Parker, aged 6. “He gave it all while pursuing his passion of serving as a police officer,” acknowledged McCubbin.
