Trooper Jerome Scott Clifton, 30, of Frankfort, Kentucky, was shot while responding to a domestic disturbance in Pike County on September 16, 1980. A gunman had taken hostages; Clifton went to the scene attempting to de-escalate and rescue those held. He survived for two weeks but died of his gunshot wound on October 1, 1980. Clifton was a nine-year veteran assigned to the Pikeville post and left a wife and two daughters.

The shooter was arrested. Initial conviction and sentence were later overturned, and a second trial produced a 20-year sentence; time already served affected the outcome. The case left a lasting mark on the Kentucky State Police and the community. If anyone knew Trooper Clifton or was in Pike County that September, any memories or information could still be valuable.