Retired Chicago Cop Dies From Gunshot Wounds Sustained In Line Of Duty: Kentucky State Police

CHICAGO — A retired Chicago Police officer died Thursday from injuries sustained earlier this month when he he was shot in the line of duty. Rick Coyle, a deputy for the Crittenden County Sheriff's Office in Kentucky, was struck by gunfire on April 2, and had been hospitalized ever since.

"Deputy Coyle sacrificed everything protecting our commonwealth, and we are forever grateful to him," Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said regarding the death of Coyle, who had served for 28 years as a member of the Chicago Police Department's SWAT team.

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Following his retirement from CPD in 2019, Coyle and his wife, Jamie, moved to Kentucky, where he joined the Crittenden County Sheriff's Office, working as the department's school resource officer for Crittenden County High School for the past two years.

Coyle grew up on Chicago's South Side, and graduated from Brother Rice High School in 1985.

According to CCSO, officers, along with staff from the Kentucky Department of Community Based Services, responded to a residence in Sturgis, Kentucky, on April 2 to serve emergency guardianship paperwork. During the incident, gunfire was exchanged with the suspect, Ronnie Phillips, age 60, who was fatally wounded.

Coyle was struck by gunfire from the suspect, airlifted to the hospital, and had remained in critical condition at Deaconess Midtown Hospital in Evansville, Indiana, since the incident.

A female victim was safely removed from the residence.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of Deputy Rick Coyle from the Crittenden County Sheriff's Office, who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. He served with courage, honor and a steadfast commitment to protecting others," Kentucky State Police said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and fellow officers during this difficult time. His sacrifice will not be forgotten."

Cook County Board Commissioner Sean Morrison (17th District) said he had been friends with Coyle for more than 40 years.

"He dedicated himself to law enforcement, serving the people of Chicago and later his new home in Kentucky with honor and integrity. He didn't do it for recognition. He did it because that's who he was," Morrison said. "But to me, Rick was more than the badge. He was a friend through decades of life, someone who stood by you, who you could trust, and who made an impact just by being himself."

The Crittenden County Sheriff's Office said Coyle will be laid to rest with full line of duty honors and benefits, adding that additional details will be released when the funeral arrangements are finalized.