The case of Tommy Allen Combs Jan 1983

Not every lawsuit or criminal charge ends up in a Kentucky court.  Sometimes a police officer in the performance of his duties isn't just sued or charged with murder when forced to use lethal force in self defense. 

Perry County Deputies and four Kentucky State Patrol officers attempted to arrest Tommy Combs.   After being told that no one was at home the officers noticed a curtain open and someone watching.   Mr. Combs was inside using a woman and her son as cover.  As soon as the troopers broke into the apartment to arrest Mr. Combs, Tommy opened fire with a rifle and 45 automatic. 

Perry County Deputy Alex Eversole had no vest and died immediately.   Trooper Roy Boleyn age 31 was shot through two spinal vertebrae and was painfully left crippled for life.   Trooper Floyd Hunsaker was shot in the arm and was left unable to return fire effectively.   With difficulty Trooper Don Williamson shoots through and around the first two troopers.  The son died later from the rifle fire.  Unbelievably, shot and paralyzed Trooper Roy Boleyn struggled and fatally shot Mr. Combs barely in time to save the Trooper Hunsaker's life. Trooper Roy Boleyn was honored nationally by Parade as the First Trooper to win officer of the year.  Trooper Roy Boleyn had already lost a wife indirectly from another shooting and a child.    Here is the Kentucky corrections use of force policy