Chief Deputy Sheriff Jody Cash
Officer: Calloway County Chief Deputy Sheriff Jody Wayne Cash
Date: 5/16/2022 Location: Benton, KY FACTORS (1,2,7,9,15,21)
Perpetrator(s) Involved: Gary Rowland
Criminal Activity History/Involved: Yes, Rowland had prior drug and weapons related arrests. / Yes, Rowland illegally possessed a handgun.
Mental Illness: Unknown.
Substance Abuse History/Involved: Rowland had drug related warrants. / None reported.
Race/Sex/Age: White/Male/30
What prompted the initial contact with the killer? On May 16, 2022, the Marshall County Special Response Team arrested Gary Roland for absconding from parole and having active drug and weapons related arrest warrants.
Actions taken by subject toward police: While being interviewed by the deputies, Rowland requested an opportunity to smoke a cigarette. When Chief Deputy Cash and Marshall County Sheriff’s Deputy Donald Bowman escorted Rowland outside to smoke, Rowland accessed a concealed handgun and opened fire with it on the deputies. Chief Deputy Cash was fatally struck.
Reactions by the police: Deputy Bowman and another deputy returned fire, justifiably killing Rowland.
How murdered? Chief Deputy Cash was fatally shot while escorting a prisoner.
What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? Whichever deputy put the handcuffs on Rowland was responsible for properly searching him to ensure he did not have any concealed weapons. It is also good practice for any LEO that will be dealing with a prisoner to perform their own search just to confirm no weapons or paraphernalia have been missed in an earlier search.
Would the officer have been justified to use deadly force before being murdered? N/A, Chief Deputy Cash was dealing with a prisoner thought to have been thoroughly searched already so he was essentially ambushed.
Outcome for the cop-killer: Rowland was justifiably shot dead by other deputies at the scene.
Miscellaneous: While reporting on Rowland is scant, it is clear had he still been in prison serving his full sentence, Chief Deputy Cash could still be alive today.
