Russell County will honor Deputy Joshua Phipps in Jamestown, Kentucky on Saturday, September 13, 2025 at 6:30pmCT. The memorial will begin at the Jamestown City Park and end at the Jamestown Courthouse.  

Deputy Joshua Phipps is the son of Donnie and Pam Phipps of Columbia. Deputy Phipps grew up in Columbia. He graduated from Adair County High School, attended LWC, Texas A&M, and graduated from WKU. He also had a Master’s degree from UK. He served two years on the Louisville Police Department and served 3 years as a Russell County Sheriff's Deputy. His family lives in Columbia and Deputy Phipps owned a house in Columbia on West Guardian Street.  

On September 16, 2024, Deputy Phipps was aiding KY State Troopers in a foot search for an armed and dangerous suspect with several outstanding warrants in Adair and Russell counties. Deputy Phipps was ambushed and killed by the suspect. 

The National Law Enforcement Museum is committed to preserving the history of American law enforcement and sharing the experiences of service and sacrifice for generations to come. Each year, the names of officers killed in the line of duty are engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC. These names are then read aloud during the annual Candlelight Vigil to memorialize those who made the ultimate sacrifice

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In 2025, Deputy Joshua Phipps was one of the 345 officers that were honored during the 37th Annual Candlelight Vigil on Tuesday, May 13th on the National Mall in Washington, DC.  His name will live on engraved on the Washington DC Memorial Wall for fallen officers and at the Richmond, Kentucky Law Officer Training Facility. His photo and tribute are also honored as part of the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, DC.