Trooper Hayden Phillips Obituary, Kentucky Death: State Police Officer Honored Following Reported Line-of-Duty Death

Kentucky is mourning Trooper Hayden Wayne Phillips, who died in the line of duty on September 28, 2026, following a shooting during a traffic stop on Interstate 65 in Warren County.

According to the Kentucky State Police, Phillips was conducting a traffic stop near Smiths Grove when he was shot. He later died from his injuries. The suspect, identified by authorities as Emonnie Dion Branch, 51, of Portland, Tennessee, was arrested in Louisville and charged in connection with the trooper’s death. The case remains subject to legal proceedings. <Cite refs={[“turn432863search3”,“turn432863news14”]}/>

Phillips served with the Kentucky State Police for three years and was assigned to Post 3 in Bowling Green. Before joining the state police, he worked with the Glasgow Police Department and the Russell Springs Police Department. He also served as a K-9 handler and contributed to local emergency services as a firefighter and emergency medical technician. <Cite refs={[“turn432863search1”,“turn432863search8”]}/>

Beyond his professional duties, Phillips was a husband and father of three sons. His family, colleagues, and former coworkers have remembered him for his dedication to public service and his connection to the communities where he worked.

Following news of his death, officers and residents gathered along the route of a procession escorting him home to Glasgow. Community members also left flowers, messages, and other tributes at Kentucky State Police Post 3 in Bowling Green. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear ordered flags at state facilities to fly at half-staff in his honor through October 4. <Cite refs={[“turn432863search4”,“turn432863search7”,“turn432863news12”]}/>

According to the published obituary from Hatcher & Saddler Funeral Home, visitation is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Living Hope Baptist Church in Bowling Green. The funeral service is scheduled for Sunday, October 4, at noon at E.A. Diddle Arena on the Western Kentucky University campus. Burial will follow at Glasgow Municipal Cemetery. <Cite refs={[“turn432863search0”,“turn432863search9”]}/>

The Kentucky State Police Foundation is the authorized channel for donations supporting the Phillips family. The family and authorities have asked the public to rely on official information when offering support.

Trooper Phillips is being remembered by fellow officers and community members for his years of service and commitment to protecting the people of Kentucky.