[1] According to Women in the Fire Service, Lieutenant Cowan is the first black female career firefighter ever to die in the line of duty.
[5] On the first tour of duty after being formally promoted to Lieutenant, Cowan was shot and killed while responding to a domestic violence call.
Cowan, an emergency medical technician (EMT) and firefighter assigned to Engine Company 18, was trying to help Fontaine Hutchinson, who had been shot in the head outside her rural south Lexington home.
The lawsuit accused top Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government officials, 911 operators and emergency dispatchers of negligence.
[8] A "Homegoing Celebration" led by ten local pastors spoke of hope, and of faith that Lt. Cowan moved on to a better place.
[9] route[permanent dead link] On August 12, 2019, the city of Lexington opened Brenda Cowan Elementary School in her honor.
The bill would amend KRS 508.025, relating to assault in the third degree, to provide that a person is guilty of assault in the third degree when he causes or attempts to cause physical injury to emergency medical services personnel, organized fire department members, and rescue squad personnel.