LONDON, Kentucky — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced Tuesday law enforcement agencies would be "transitioning" police resources from a manhunt in the ongoing search for I-75 shooting suspect Joseph Couch.
As the search for Couch went deeper into the Daniel Boone National Forest, officers will now walk different paths going forward.
With about 90% of Laurel County Public Schools students returning for in-person instruction, most students saw the London Police Department (LPD) posted up outside the district's schools. As of Tuesday, Kentucky State troopers will be joining the department while patrolling the town of London and streets of Laurel County.
"We're also doing everything we can to provide extra patrols to daycares, hospitals," LPD Assistant Chief Bobby Day said.
While London police handle that, state troopers have an even greater focus investigating tips into Couch's whereabouts.
Going forward, the forest search continues from the sky with thermal imaging on drones and helicopters.
Installed during the ground search, trail cameras now cover the 28,000 acres state troopers scoured.
FBI bloodhounds couldn't find Couch in the forest, and cadaver dogs failed to find his body.
Police still don't know if their suspect is dead or alive.
Out of the 400 tips received, WHAS11 asked if any of those led KSP to believe Couch left the forest.
"What we've discovered in the forest versus these tips and where our communities are, that's why we wanted to transition from there and just put more resources in those communities where those tips come in," Commissioner Phillip Burnett answered.
Federal help with the search is also moving out of the woods.
"The FBI, we are here. Although we're transitioning from the manhunt and those resources, we are moving to the fugitive investigation," FBI Louisville Special Agent Quincy Barnett said.
Without a conclusion to the search, the focus is now on caution and keeping people safe.
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