SCOTT COUNTY, Ky. — Thursday was a somber day as hundreds gathered at Scott County High School to remember Scott County Sheriff's Deputy Caleb Conley.

What You Need To Know

  • Hundreds gathered in Scott and Henderson counties to lay Scott County Deputy Caleb Conley to rest 

  • Conley was remembered by friends and family as funny, loving and dedicated law enforcement 

  • Conley was shot and killed May 22 during a traffic stop and leaves behind a wife and two young kids 

  • A funeral service took place Thursday at Scott County High School followed by a burial at Battle Grove Cemetery in Cynthiana

Conley was shot and killed last Monday on May 22 during a routine traffic stop in Georgetown as part of a violent rampage that spanned Scott and Fayette counties.

Friends and family remembered their fallen hero as someone who was funny, loving and hardworking. Scott County Sgt. Rob Tackett was Conley's supervisor for three years. Tackett was the first to speak at the funeral service and described his friend as a great co-worker.

“He was fun. He made work fun," Tackett said.

Family and friends paid their respects to Conley at an over hour-long memorial service held at the Scott County High School gymnasium. Every seat filled with a family member, friend or just a fellow officer asking why.

Tackett said last Monday was one of the worst days of his life when got the call Conley had been shot and transported to UK Hospital in Lexington.

“We were all crushed and in a state of shock just like we still are," Tackett said.

Hundreds upon hundred of police officers from across the Commonwealth arrived in their squad cars to pay tribute to a deputy that made the ultimate sacrifice while serving and protecting his community. Tackett said that day, Conley was working overtime, but always volunteered to do so with a smile.

“It’s a hell of a thing to witness a man live out his calling and dream on a daily basis. It was something to watch that man work," Tackett said.

Conley was married to his wife, Rachel Conley, for 10 years and was a father to a son and daughter. Rachel Conley said her husband was like a superhero to their two young kids.

“He’d get so down on himself anytime he had to miss any of their events or games because he felt like he was disappointing them," she said.

The widow also remembered her husband for the pranks he played on her. She said no one made her laugh quite like Caleb did.

"He loved me wholeheartedly and looking back on our marriage, I have no regrets," she said. "Not a lot of people can say that."

Born in Arizona, Conley served in the Army for eight years and worked the last four years with the Scott County Sheriff's Office living out his dream. Cpt. Jeremy Nettles with the Scott County Sheriff's Office said Conley was born to be a deputy.

“It’s no exaggeration to say the world was truly safer with Caleb patrolling the streets," Nettles said.

Nettles and Tackett also remembered Conley for volunteering to do tasks other deputies loathed including prisoner transports, speed checks and monitoring inmates at the hospital.

Conley passed away at UK Hospital on May 22 and was laid to rest Thursday afternoon at Battle Grove Cemetery in his town of residence, Cynthiana.

Steven Sheangshang, the man accused of killing Conley, pleaded not guilty to numerous charges related to Conley's killing, including murder Tuesday morning. Sheangshang continues to be held on Scott County charges without bond. He is still being lodged at the Lexington-Fayette Detention Center.

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