David George Whitson, a 34-year-old Master Police Officer with the Bowling Green Police Department, was killed in the line of duty on October 31, 2006. An eight-year veteran of the department, he was known by his colleagues for his dedicated service and by his family as a loving husband and father of two children. Born in Gallatin, Tennessee, Whitson was a graduate of Western Kentucky University and had spent his entire career on patrol.
On that Tuesday morning, Officer Whitson and two
other officers responded to a call regarding a man brandishing knives on Vine Street. Upon arrival, Whitson engaged in a struggle with the suspect, Rojelio Gonzalez-Pacheco, who was armed with two knives. In an attempt to save Whitson, the other officers used deadly force against the attacker. During the altercation, both Officer Whitson and Gonzalez-Pacheco sustained fatal gunshot wounds. Whitson was transported to The Medical Center where he died at 11:19 a.m. An autopsy later confirmed he died from a single gunshot wound.
The investigation into the shooting was handled by the Kentucky State Police. The incident marked the first line-of-duty death in the history of the Bowling Green Police Department, a loss that was deeply felt by the entire community. The suspect, 26-year-old Rojelio Gonzalez-Pacheco, was also killed at the scene. The case was to be reviewed by the Warren County Commonwealth's Attorney following the completion of the state police investigation. The other officers involved fired their weapons to protect Whitson during the attack.
