A police officer in Kentucky died Christmas Eve while she conducted a traffic stop and was hit while inside her cruiser, which caught fire while she was trapped inside, WDRB.com reported.
Louisville Metro Police Detective Deidre Mengedoht, 32, served on the force for more than seven years and reportedly leaves behind a young son.
60-Year old Roger Burdette arrested for DUI and murder of a police officer following a fatal crash in Louisville Monday. @WDRBNews pic.twitter.com/BUDLSkEnSj
— Joel Schipper (@JSchipperWDRB) December 25, 2018
Roger Burdette, 60, was charged with murder of a police officer and DUI, the report said. Reports said that Mengedoht had her emergency lights on while conducting the stop on the I-64.
Heartbreaking news unfolding on this Christmas Eve involving a police officer who was assisting a stranded motorist…
PLEASE be careful on the roads this holiday season as you travel across Kentucky…We want everyone to make it safely home including those who protect and serve
— Governor Matt Bevin (@GovMattBevin) December 24, 2018
“It’s very devastating to the department,” David James, the Metro Council president told WLKY.com. “The officers that work with these officers that we’ve lost, it’s devastating to them also. It’s a big loss for them. The police department is like one giant family and they love one another, so it’s just very hard.”
