Street Renaming Plan For Fallen Officer Stalls

A Lexington (Ken.) dispatcher’s project to rename a city street for fallen officer Bryan Durman failed to gather any votes at a recent city addressing board meeting, but now the mayor has supported the the idea, putting new life in the proposal. Amy Ross, a dispatcher at the Lexington-Fayette Division of Enhanced 911 center, suggested naming Goodwin Drive for Durman after he was struck down April 29th by a speeding car driven by a suspected DUI driver. The proposed street is near one of the police department’s sector roll-call buildings. However, fearing merchant and resident opposition, 911 director David Lucas suggested nearby Hiro Street, which is short and has no addressed properties. That proposal went to the addressing board on July 23rd, but received a cold reception from its members, including Lucas. Oddly, even after suggeseting the street himself, Lucas told a reporter, “I feel naming a street that small isn’t very honorary.” He proposed renaming a new street for Durman. He also noted that streets had not ever been renamed for other fallen police officers and firefighters. City street-naming guidelines say a personal renaming should be made 20 years or more after a person’s death. Ross hopes the mayor’s support will now push her project forward. Read more about Ross’ project here, and check a map of the street after the break. Update: In mid-August 2010 the addressing board approved the renaming request, but the Urban County Council must still approve it. Read more here.