KENTUCKY STATE POLICE CONDUCTS DEATH INVESTIGATION BARREN COUNTY AFTER MADISON COUNTY, KY. MAN DIES DURING TRAINING AT KY. FISH & WILDLIFE ACADEMY
VERY YOUNG-AGED RECRUIT PASSED AWAY DUE TO ‘MEDICAL EMERGENCY’ DURING TRAINING EXERCISE
NOVEMBER 3, 2024 – written by WADE QUEEN
Tex Bailey
The Kentucky State Police have launched an investigation after one person died during a Kentucky Fish and Wildlife water training exercise at the Barren County Family YMCA on November 1.
According to their report statement, the Kentucky State Police (KSP) Post 3 in Bowling Green in Warren County were requested by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) to investigate an agency-involved training incident that occurred on Friday, November 1, 2024, around 1:13 P.M. Central Time at the KDFWR Game Warden Academy located in Barren County. KSP Post 3 detectives arrived on the scene and began an investigation.
The preliminary investigation indicates that during a training exercise, KDFWR Game Warden Recruit William Bailey, 24, from Richmond, KY., reportedly experienced a medical emergency. KDFWR officers at the scene rendered aid until EMS arrived. William Bailey was transported to T.J. Samson Community Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
This information is based on the preliminary investigation into this incident and could be subject to change through the course of the ongoing investigation as investigators interview vital witnesses and gather pertinent facts. KSP was assisted at the scene by Barren-Metcalfe EMS, the Glasgow Fire Department and the KDFWR.
Cody Fox, a representative from the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Service, confirmed the recruits were participating in a water training exercise at the time.
The KSP has statewide jurisdiction and investigates critical incidents throughout the commonwealth as requested by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
The KSP is committed to being transparent while ensuring the integrity of the investigation. To protect the integrity of an ongoing investigation, it is KSP’s standard operating procedure not to release specific details until vital witnesses have been interviewed and pertinent facts gathered. Timelines to complete investigations vary based on the complexity of the case.
The Frankfort office of the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife released a short statement when asked for comment on the tragic death of William Baileyb at their training academy facility.
“With heavy hearts, we share the sad news of the passing of Game Warden Recruit William Bailey.
“William passed away earlier today after experiencing an apparent medical emergency during training activities in Barren County. Born in Alabama, he later made his home in Richmond, where he earned a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Kentucky University and also played for the Colonels football team”.
“We ask that you please keep William, his family, friends, fellow recruits and all members of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources’ Law Enforcement Division in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time”.
Though William was with our agency for only a short time, he will be deeply missed and will always remain a part of the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife family”.
Tara Bailey, CEO of the Barren County Family YMCA, was asked for a statement regarding the death.
“We were devastated to learn that, despite the efforts of medical professionals, the game warden recruit passed away,” Tara Bailey wrote in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers remain with this man, his family and friends, as well as those who came to his aid. Making sure all children and adults are safe while at our facility is a top priority. We are conducting an internal review to learn the facts about what happened in this incident. We will use the findings of this review to ensure our safety measures align with best-in-class practices in order to best prevent an incident like this from happening again.”
William Bailey and Tara Bailey are not related.
