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College scholarships totaling $51,500 have been awarded to 25 Kentucky families by the Gerald F. Healy Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation Scholarship endowment.

Four $5,000 scholarships each were awarded to surviving family members of Kentucky officers who died in the line of duty. They include children of Kentucky State Police Trooper Johnny Edrington (end of watch, Dec. 20, 1988), Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement Officer Jason Cammack (end of watch, April 23, 2000) and Jessamine County Sheriff’s Deputy Billy Walls (end of watch, Nov. 13, 2001). Jennifer Thacker, wife of fallen Alcoholic Beverage Control Investigator Brandon Thacker (end of watch, April 16, 1998), was also awarded a scholarship.

The remaining recipients were awarded $1,500 scholarships.

Healy was a founding member of the Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation, which was established in 1999. The foundation’s original purpose was to build a memorial that would honor all Kentucky officers who have been killed in the line of duty. Once the monument was completed in 2000, the organization expanded its efforts to include a financial endowment program, which helps Kentucky peace officers and their families with educational, medical and emergency relief.

In 2004, the foundation created the scholarship program to help law enforcement officers, dispatchers and their families pay for college. It is restricted to law enforcement officers and dispatch personnel (current, retired or disabled) and their survivors or dependents. The scholarships may be used at any accredited college or university, including two-year and community colleges and may also be used for attendance at recognized or certified vocational or trade schools. Students do not have to major in law enforcement or criminal justice to be eligible for the scholarship.

After his death in 2009, the scholarships were named in honor of Healy’s dedication to the foundation.

“The goal of the Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation has always been to honor and help the officers of this state,” said KLEMF Scholarship Committee Chairman Drexel Neal. “I cannot think of a better way to honor the fallen heroes of the past and our officers of today than to help educate their survivors, their comrades and their dependents for a better future.”

Applications for the Healy scholarships are due annually in March, and are reviewed by the KLEMF Board of Directors. For details and to obtain an application, visit klemf.org/scholarships.