Leitchfield Police Officer Joe Overton was given a commendation at Monday night’s Leitchfield City Council meeting for the extraordinary compassion he showed a family who recently lost a son.
The night of June 18, nine-year-old Dakota Vincent, who suffered from spina bifida, was rushed to the ER at Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center where he later died.
The boy’s father, Robert Vincent, said Overton went well beyond his call of service in comforting the family the night Dakota died, and arranged for several fire departments to take part in the boy’s funeral procession.
The Letter of Commendation presented to Officer Overton says:
This Letter of Commendation is presented to LPD Officer Joseph Overton for going above and beyond the call for service on or about June 18, 2018, when Officer Overton assisted a grieving family member during the loss of a son while at the Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center, and beyond by coordinating with multiple fire departments in assisting with the funeral detail for nine-year-old Dakota Vincent.
On June 23, 2018, the deceased’s father, Robert Vincent, came to the Leitchfield Police Department wanting to speak with Officer Overton’s supervisor. Mr. Vincent described how Officer Overton went far beyond what he expected a police officer to do in dealing with him and his family after the death of his son. Mr. Vincent described how Officer Overton sat with him for an extended amount of time to comfort him as well as putting together a special funeral detail consisting of a number of fire departments. Mr. Vincent added that Officer Overton went out of his way to lead the funeral procession during his son’s funeral, as well as presented a plaque to the family.
Mr. Vincent wanted to let the LPD command staff know that Officer Overton’s actions were truly appreciated and that his actions were a great example of how a police officer serves people that he doesn’t even know.
Officer Overton’s actions during this difficult time for the Vincent family are a great credit to himself and the Leitchfield Police Department.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
