FAIRDALE, Ky. — The investigation continues to find who shot and killed Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Shirley in the early morning hours of August 5, while he was working an off-duty security job in Shively. 

While local and federal detectives searched for answers Friday, his hometown of Fairdale mourned. David Hicks coached Shirley on the Fairdale High School baseball team. 

“[He was] just a great person; a true servant,” Hicks said. “That’s what he really wanted to do, just help society be a better place.”

Shirley’s passion for law enforcement started young, according to Barry Shouse, who teaches law enforcement courses at Fairdale and had Brandon and his brothers in class.

“Oh, great family; great kids,” Shouse exalted when asked about his impression of the Shirleys.

“A #1 student, a #1 kid; followed his dreams; became a public servant; gave back to the community; helped with the security for the football team, the basketball team” he added about Brandon specifically.

Hicks said Shirley’s legacy lives on at the school, and it can be a guide to those beyond Fairdale.

“It’s shameful that we’re having to stand here with such a tragedy and talk about such a great person,” Hicks said. “But, I think, for Brandon’s legacy and moving forward, I think that we as a society, as humans, we have to be more compassionate and understanding of each other, and we have to be better.”

By Friday afternoon, a memorial of flowers and personal items had compiled in a grassy area next to the rotary in the middle of town.

Fire Chief Darryl Roy, whose nearby office overlooks the rotary, spoke at length about how the people of Fairdale were like a family, for better and for worse. He smiled and said there was plenty of bickering that can happen among residents at times, like most close families.

But his smile disappeared as he looked out one of the fire house’s large bay doors and into the sunny afternoon sky.

“When you hurt one of us, you have all of Fairdale to deal with."