Bowling Green Police Department, Kentucky
End of Watch: Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Age: 34
Tour of Duty: 8 years
Badge Number: 179
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Inadvertent)
Date of Incident: October 31, 2006
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Master Police Officer David Whitson was shot and killed after he and two other officers responded to a call of a man brandishing a knife on Vine Street.
When MPO Whitson arrived at the scene he became engaged in a struggle with the suspect, who was armed with two knives. The other officers, in an attempt to rescue MPO Whitson, used deadly force against the suspect. MPO Whitson and the suspect both suffered fatal gunshot wounds during the altercation.
MPO Whitson had served with the Bowling Green Police Department for eight years. He is survived by his wife and two children.