MANCHESTER, Ky. — FBI Director Kash Patel met with law enforcement officials from across Kentucky’s Fifth Congressional District on Thursday, February 27, 2026, at Eastern Kentucky University’s Manchester Campus, an event organized by U.S. Representative Hal Rogers (R-KY).
The invitation-only luncheon and panel discussion brought together officers from local, state, and federal agencies to discuss crime-fighting strategies in rural communities, according to statements from Rogers’ office and LEX 18 News. Patel lauded the operate of rural law enforcement, highlighting what he described as successes in reducing violent crime and seizing fentanyl under the Trump administration.
During the event, Rogers announced $20 million in Community Project Funding secured for police departments in southern and eastern Kentucky. The funding, signed into law by President Trump in January, will be used to upgrade communications equipment, a critical need for effective inter-agency collaboration, particularly during natural disasters, Rogers stated. “You can’t do the job if you don’t have communications equipment,” Patel echoed.
The event was not without protest. Jeremy Hicks, standing outside the closed-door luncheon, held a sign reading, “Who was supposed to protect Doug from LPD???” and a weed eater. Hicks was referencing the December 2024 shooting death of Douglas “Doug” Harless by London Police Department officers whereas attempting to serve a warrant at the wrong residence, according to LEX 18 and News-USA Today.
A grand jury declined to indict the officers involved in the shooting. Hicks, who did not know Harless personally, expressed a desire for accountability and transparency in the case, and shared concerns voiced by Laurel County leaders. Laurel County Judge Executive David Westerfield formally requested a federal investigation into Harless’ death in a letter dated February 23, 2026, addressed to the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.
When questioned about Westerfield’s letter during a news conference, Patel stated he was unaware of its contents but indicated the FBI would review it. “I don’t have personal knowledge of the letter, but I’m sure if it was sent, it was received, and what we do with any request or inquiry like that is there’s a process with the FBI to review the matter with our state and local authorities and our partners at the Department of Justice, and then we’ll craft a decision on whether or not based on the facts and the law, any sort of inquiry is further required. We will look at it,” Patel said.
Hicks and other supporters of Harless are awaiting a decision from federal authorities regarding a potential investigation.
