Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Daddy,
Had no ideal they was a site on you. I was so pleased to see it. I miss you so much. It has been 12 years since your passing. I hope I made you proud of me, you killer came up for parole and I fight with all my might to keep him in there. I put up pettions all over the county, a lady from the paper seen one and called me to do a story on it, by the time it was over with it was on the news and all. Butch Phillips helped me & Brian out a whole lot on getting the pettions out. I was so greatful that he helped us out. Daddy, the lady at the news paper put my e-mail addy in the paper and you wouldn't believe all the e-mails I got from people all over. It was really touching to no that people still cared after 12 years. It was so hard to go throgh the parole hearing, it made me relive it all over again. I could barely talk for crying, well we all were crying. But Brian & I done good he is not to come back up for parole for another 10 yrs., and in 10 yrs I'll do it all over again for you. I will not let noone forget what happened to you. You were such a good man. Everone loved you with the bottom of their hearts. No matter what time of day or night I seen you, you always had that big ol' grin. You was so caring and good hearted. Well, I guess you no mom is in heaven with you now. It is so hard to go on day by day without you guys. You have 6 wounderful grandkids. You would be proud of them all. I have 2. Brittany and Alex. Before every meal we turn grace and Alex always says a prayier for you. I have told them everything about you. Britt, she reminds me of you so much at times. She loves singing. I can remember being a little girl going to church and watching you stand in front of the church singing, "Mama I'm coming home" & "Amazing Grace". You guys would have made quite a pair singing together. I miss you so much! Even though I'm getting ready to have my 30 B-Day I still need my daddy. I no I have you in my heart. Brian is so good to me dad, you was right he has made a good hubby, and a great daddy. You always knew what was good . We all love you and miss you deeply. You are in my thoughts and prayiers daily.
Love always ,
Kristi (sissy)

daughter

At the time officer Kidwell was shot in the line of duty, I didn't know that I would end up a police oficer. I remember thinking how it didn't seem real, how could someone in Stanford shoot at a police officer. Things like that only happened in larger cities, like Lexington and Louisville. I thought of how he and his family had gone to church with my family, and had lived not two miles from us. It made me physically sick to think of what his wife and kids were going through: the heartache, the feeling of loss, the senselessness of it all. Three short years later I was the one wearing the badge, in, of all places, Lexington. In eight years on the street I've seen more than I care to admit. I had grown used to how badly some people could treat their fellow man. I had seen three officers shot(thank God all survived), one a rookie officer I trained. But none of it brought back memories of officer Kidwell. Not until November 13, 2001. That day one of my best friends, Deputy Billy Walls of Jessamine county, was gunned down attempting to serve a warrant. The feeling of dread that came over me, I can't find the words to describe it. His wife and daughter, how would they make it through this pain? Not till that black day did I feel anything like the sick feeling I had when I learned Gary had been shot. Just like officer Kidwell's incident, the act was so senseless, if I spend time trying to find reasons why, I would go out of my mind. I think the most we can do is to find a way to live with the consequences of a desperate persons act of violence. To officer Kidwell's family, I want you to know he was a hero. Not for the tragic manner in which he died, but for putting on that badge and going out every day and trying to make the world a better, safer place. After everything I've seen on this job I've learned that is the most important aspect of police work; the willingness to put yourself in harms way to protect someone else.

Officer David K. Day
Lexington PD