David George Whitson, 34, a Master Police Officer with the Bowling Green Police Department, was killed in the line of duty on October 31, 2006. An eight-year department veteran and Western Kentucky University graduate, Whitson had spent his career on patrol and was described as a devoted husband and father of two.

That Tuesday morning officers responded to a report of a man brandishing knives on Vine Street. Whitson engaged the suspect, 26-year-old Rojelio Gonzalez-Pacheco, who was armed with two knives. During a struggle, other officers fired their weapons to protect Whitson. Both Whitson and Gonzalez-Pacheco suffered fatal gunshot wounds; Whitson was taken to The Medical Center and died at 11:19 a.m. An autopsy confirmed a single gunshot wound as the cause of death. The Kentucky State Police handled the investigation, with a review slated by the Warren County Commonwealth’s Attorney after the state police probe.

Anyone who remembers Officer Whitson or who has information about the incident is asked to come forward.