POLICE Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Suspect in Kentucky Officer's Murder Killed in Tennessee

KSP identified the dead officer as Phillip Meacham, 38, who has worked for the Hopkinsville Police Department since May 2017. Meacham was off duty Thursday night when he was pulled over by a man reportedly impersonating a police officer. The suspect shot and killed Officer Meacham, officials say.

March 30, 2018
Suspect in Kentucky Officer's Murder Killed in Tennessee

James K. Decoursey was suspected in the killing of Hopkinsville, KY, police officer Phillip Meacham, who was ambushed by a gunman posing as a police officer Thursday night. He was killed in Tennessee by law enforcement officers. Photo: Kentucky State Police)

2 min to read



A suspect wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of a Hopkinsville, KY, police officer was shot and killed overnight in an encounter with law enforcement in Clarksville, TN, according to the Kentucky State Police. 

"James K. Decoursey is no longer a threat to the public," a statement from KSP said. Decoursey, 35, was shot and died from his injuries.

Ad Loading...

KSP identified the dead officer as Phillip Meacham, 38, who has worked for the Hopkinsville Police Department since May 2017. Meacham was off duty Thursday night when he was pulled over by a man reportedly impersonating a police officer. The suspect shot and killed Officer Meacham, officials say.

Josh DeVine, spokesman for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, said that about midnight Thursday two Montgomery County Sheriff's deputies and a U.S. Marshal encountered Decoursey after receiving a tip from a hotel regarding a man matching Decoursey's description, the Leaf-Chronicle reports. 

The TBI said Decoursey appears to have ignored repeated commands and the situation escalated, resulting in the law enforcement officers firing upon Decoursey, killing him. No law enforcement officers were injured in that incident.

No motive for the killing of Officer Meacham has been divulged.

Hopkinsville Police Chief Clayton Sumner said he was unsure whether Meacham and Decoursey knew each other personally, but "considering they're both from here, it's very likely."

Ad Loading...

Decoursey was known to the police department from prior arrests, Sumner said.

More Patrol

Blue-tinted background photo of hand hanging up an office phone and headline Richmond Heights PD: Harassment and Threats Will Be Addressed Accordingly
PatrolJanuary 14, 2026

Mistaken Identity: Ohio Police Department Harassed After ICE OIS

An Ohio police department has received harassing phone calls and social media messages because it has an officer with the same name as the ICE officer identified in the Minneapolis, Minnesota, officer-involved shooting.

Read More →
Black background with POLICE logo, police light bar, and headline Top 10 Videos of 2025.
Patrolby Wayne ParhamJanuary 7, 2026

Top 10 POLICE Videos of 2025

What were the top videos published by POLICE in 2025? Many covered tactics and officer safety, while others came from booth visits at IACP in Denver, Colorado. In case you missed these, here are the top 10 videos.

Read More →
Blue tinted background of a police dispatcher with headline Flock Safety + Coreforce Integation
TechnologyJanuary 7, 2026

Flock Safety and Coreforce Partner to Enhance Real-Time Awareness and Operational Efficiency for Law Enforcement

A new integration partnership will enable Flock Safety hotlist alerts and license plate recognition (LPR) searches directly in Coreforce’s Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) and Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) platform.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
three background images - man in tactical gear, image of ballistic helmet, photo of police officer in tactical gear approaching a car, and a circle with logo for Ballistic Armor Co.
PatrolJanuary 7, 2026

Ballistic Armor Co. Secures Strategic Investment to Expand U.S. Production Capabilities

Ballistic Armor Co. secured a new commitment that will accelerate its multi-year transition from a third-party tactical equipment retailer to a premium innovator and U.S. manufacturer of advanced protective systems.

Read More →
image of men on bicycles and women competing in martial arts and a log for the US Police & Fire Championships
PatrolDecember 10, 2025

Police & Fire Championships Expands Athlete Eligibility

The US Police & Fire Championships is now open to all employees – sworn, civilian, administrative, technical, and support staff – who work directly for an eligible public safety agency.

Read More →
Thumbnail for video series POLICE Topics, Tactic & TIps against a black background and an illuminated police car light bar. Headline for Tips for Watching the Hands
Sponsoredby Wayne ParhamDecember 5, 2025

Tips for Watching the Hands

How can officers better “watch the hands”? Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association, shares some tips.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Thumbnail for video series POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips with yellow headline 10 Tips for Felony/High-Risk Stops.
Sponsoredby Wayne ParhamDecember 3, 2025

10 Tips for Felony/High-Risk Stops

What steps can officers take to stay safer during felony or high-risk vehicle stops? Here are 10 tips from Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association.

Read More →
Screenshot of compute screen showing a blurred license plate compared to an image where the image has been enhanced to show the numbers and letters.
Patrolby Edited by StaffNovember 25, 2025

Amped Highlights Power Behind Amped FIVE Software

Amped FIVE empowers you to advance your investigations with confidence and precision, from the crime scene all the way to the courtroom.

Read More →
Background orange tinted image of southern California with pushpin marking Burbank. Headline reads K-9 Killed by Gunman, Burbank Police Department
PatrolNovember 24, 2025

Police K-9 Killed, Suspect Dies in Shootout with Cops

A Burbank Police Department K-9 was fatally shot over the weekend by a passenger who fled on foot from a traffic stop. The armed suspect was killed in a shootout with officers.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Thumbnail image with blue and red police lights against a black background, large POLICE logo, headline for From the Show Floor: InVeris
Patrolby Wayne ParhamNovember 23, 2025

From the Show Floor: InVeris

In this video, learn about how InVeris provides training to law enforcement, including customized augmented reality scenarios. The augmented reality system can scan up to 10,000 square feet of real-life environments and create a curriculum based on those spaces.

Read More →