Tragedy in Kentucky
Most Officers hope and pray for a lengthy peaceful retirement when they leave the job. Some look for a job as far away from law enforcement as humanly possible. Others take security gigs around the edges of law enforcement. And a small number look for second careers as the Police because they enjoy it and feel they still have contributions to make to the community.
A Chicago native and longtime leader on the Chicago Police Department SWAT Team was critically wounded in a shooting in Kentucky, where he now serves on the Crittenden County Sheriff’s Department.
Deputy Rick Coyle, who grew up on Chicago’s South Side and attended Brother Rice High School, moved to Kentucky with his wife in 2019 after retiring from CPD. After joining the sheriff’s department, he took on a role as a school resource officer (SRO) with Crittenden County Schools in 2024.
According to Kentucky State Police, Coyle remains in critical condition after he was shot in the line of duty Thursday night. Sources with knowledge of the situation tell WGN-TV he was shot in the head and a bullet struck him in the vest.
The praise pouring in from former co-workers here is extensive. Coyle retired to Kentucky and was working as a School Resource Officer. There's a video we saw of teachers and school kids wishing Coyle and his partner a Happy School Resources Officers Day from a few weeks ago and it's obvious that these people appreciated and loved their SROs (if someone has the link, post it in the comments).
One of the job requirements was one day every week or so, the Officers had to work regular patrol duties, not unusual in smaller departments. This time, while serving guardianship paperwork on a subject, things went south and Coyle was shot in the vest and head. The assailant was killed in the ensuing gun battle and Coyle was airlifted to a trauma hospital where (as of this writing) he remains in critical condition. There is other information, rumors mostly, but it isn't our place to speak of what the Sheriff, Governor or family haven't released.
Prayers and best wishes to his family, friends and co-workers....here and in Kentucky.
Labels: officer injured
posted by SCC at 12:05 AM
58 Comments:
I pray for a miracle healing for him in the mighty name of our Lord Jesus
Prayers sent. Survived the city, hang it up and enjoy life.
Work as police after retirement… No way! Am I the only one who hates this job.
Very sad to hear this. My prayers to all involved and my heart goes out to Rich’s family.
Dear Lord, I know you have a lot on your plate right now
but we are in need of some major intervention here on
earth. Please, thank you, amen
Horrible. Escape a hell hole unscathed to a beautiful and safer area and a feral finds you.
Sending massive prayers for a perfect healing. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
I knew Rick years ago, also did my mortgage. Terrible news.
Thoughts and prayers for Rick and his loved ones.
Great person, hard worker, and went out of his way to help anyone. I wish he was still on CPD to set an example to the new generation of officers.
He served and survived Englewood. May he survive and thrive, then return to active duty. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏God bless, heal and protect our brave.
Rich is a great guy. I went to grammar school & high school with Rich. Also worked on CPD with him. He is a great guy, very personable, and a very genuine human being. Praying for his recovery and for his family at this time. Keep fighting Rich!
What in God's name is wrong with people? The disdain for law/authority has done a 180 in my life. O'Bummer...shove your "coffee summit."
Imagine doing 28 years on the job here and retiring from SWAT only to be shot by some old hick while serving papers.
Rick is a GREAT human being, I worked with him for 4 years and as a PO, he was one of the true leaders on the SWAT team. I understand the people who are thinking, "when I retire I would never take a police job again." But when you move down here to Kentucky, or Tennessee, or Texas, the true and real USA, people are different, and you feel that desire to serve your community again. It's very refreshing. But, evil dwells everywhere, as we saw on April 2nd. God bless Rick and his family and I pray for his recovery. Miracles do happen!
--Mike N.
Blessed are the peace makers they are the children of God.
Fight like hell brother
https://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/community-prays-for-injured-deputy-in-vigil/article_ca0c2663-7a9c-4539-a80d-d893731ab77e.html
https://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/ksp-injured-crittenden-county-deputy-remains-in-critical-condition-suspect-identified/article_fc71ca0a-a609-4b8c-ab07-60bb754b6c1c.html
Just a couple of the stories from the other end of the state
https://www.kfvs12.com/video/2026/04/03/kentucky-spokesperson-describes-community-effort-crittenden-co-investigation/
Too bad for you. It must be terrible t go to work every day doing something you hate. Because you hate your job it is logical to deduct that you probably are not very good at it. Why are you wasting your precious life doing something you hate. Is your skill set so depleted that you can’t do something else?
Lord if it's in your plan, please heal him, and peace to his family, amen!
Great guy prayers sent get well soon brother God bless
God bless him and his family. Asking for a little help Lord.
Maybe it’s not about you you idiot
Yes.
I worked with Rick years ago in SOS. An all around great guy and a hard working policeman. We had some great laughs together.
Hang in there my friend. May God bless and your family.
Once you retire, just retire.
Pick up hobbies, go the gym, or go fishing. Leave police and security jobs be.
Got that right.
My old police helmet sits on a shelf behind a bar in Jacksonville Florida today.
Amen indeed
Prayers sent for Rick and his family.
The pos is dead, but not use enough to avoid the tragic shootout.
Rick is a good guy, a genuinely nice guy. I hope and pray he pulls through.
I didn’t know him but a lot of my friends all have said nothing but amazing things about him since this incident. May God Bless him and his family.
This post isn’t about you, asshat. Show some respect!
Sad story. Prayers for his family. I hated the job for my last 10 years. Want nothing to with it in retirement, even in the deep red pro police area I live in.
Prayers are flowing out to him and his family
He was a good copper in SOS. God Bless
Praying for Rick and his family.
Harry Belloumini proved that one.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BVXAomkYu/?mibextid=KsPBc6
Rick was a great guy to work with. He is missed.
Amen, it’s a young mans game.
God bless this officer and prayers for all our officers .
To the others with opinions about retirement stfu and keep to yourself
Rick was an amazing officer and some of us had the fortunate opportunity to train with him and other SWAT team members in the Marine Unit after 911 . He was giving back to his community in Kentucky and they were lucky to have a person like him . I pray for his recovery !
1000 percent
I feel the same, these democRATS and progressive and peoples/folks have ruined this once great profession
If you're going to use Harry Belluomini as an example, make sure you spell his name right, asshole....he was more of a man than you'll ever be.
Precisely the Jagoff Pussy comment I would expect from this type of Dog-Ass. A hero in your own mind and outside of work, but at work you're truth is exposed.
153, God Bless from all of us brothers who once worked out of the 3rd floor at Homan Sq. Prayers, BA
Unit 153, some gone, but not forgotten, RIP. Continue to FIGHT COYLE!
You obviously never had the heart of a warrior. Hard core LEO for life.
10000%!!
Praying for his recovery.
I worked a part-time gig with Rick, one of the nicest guys I met. GOD bless him and his family
SOS was the backbone of a flailing department. Their disbanding was the final straw holding the line. Rick praying for you, brother. Also Notrab. IYKYK.
Praying for Rick. Great guy. God Bless him and his family.
They have a Venmo set up for his family:
https://venmo.com/u/CrittendenSheriffDeputy?fbclid=IwY2xjawRDmAdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeHMsfxPOy2MohRhZHoM_4BuJUde4AKQBVfGoOaDCz-TFogsl711p2T0oymF4_aem_rP5_ZHx2WXv5EoJOsDAkdA
Posted here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1LjiWdAaJ8/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Please dear Lord let this man recover fully from his injuries
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