National Police Week: GA Officers Who Died In Line Of Duty

GEORGIA -- Five Georgia law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty will be honored as part of the annual National Peace Officers Memorial Service. Tens of thousands of law enforcement officers converge on the nation’s capital for the event, which will be held Wednesday, May 15.

The names of local, state and federal law enforcement officers nationwide who died on duty will be read. Here are the officers who will be recognized from Georgia:

• CHRISTIE Anthony L.
  • End of watch: 5/25/18
  • Christie, of the Savannah Police Department, had his patrol car was struck by a tractor-trailer on Interstate 16 while he was assisting with traffic control following a vehicle accident.
• FLORES Edgar
  • End of watch: 12/13/18
  • Flores, of the Dekalb County Police Department, who was just 24, was fatally shot during a traffic stop. Police say he was chasing a suspect who drove off from the stop and was shot multiple times in a parking lot nearby.
• MADDOX Chase L.
  • End of watch: 2/9/18
  • Maddox, who was just 26, was shot and killed while assisting two deputies from the Henry County Sheriff's Office serve a warrant at a home for a man failing to appear in court on a traffic violation.
• McCLELLAND Jr. Francis A.
  • End of watch: 9/15/18
  • Ludowici Police Chief McClelland was struck and killed during a high-speed police chase.
    Police say the suspect refused to stop, leading police on a high-speed chase that reached speeds of up to 100 miles per hour.
• SMITH Michael W.
  • End of watch: 12/28/18
  • Smith, a Henry County officer, was shot in the face and killed while responding to a call of a combative person at a dentist’s office in McDonough.

President John F. Kennedy in 1962 designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week as Police Week. The Memorial Service began 20 years later with about 120 survivors and supporters of law enforcement gathering in Senate Park, according to the event’s website. Since then, it has grown to attract up to 40,000 attendees every year. The event, best known as National Police Week, features a series of events, including seminars and a candlelight vigil.

Here are the events in Georgia:

• 14 May 2019 the Downtown community will pay tribute to the public safety agencies that serve throughout the city and state with a ceremony and memorial service in recognition of National Police Week. Members of the Atlanta Interagency Law Enforcement Partnership will hold a public ceremony in Woodruff Park at 9 a.m. near the site of the Police Memorial, 9 a.m. – 11:59 p.m. Woodruff Park, 91 Peachtree St NW Atlanta, GA.
• 18 May 2019 National Police Week Open Sat, 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Old School Weightlifting, 100 Commerce Center Dr Brunswick, GA
• 11 May Coffee with a Cop for Police Week Sat, 9 – 11 a.m. Bodega Brew, 1025 Ball St Perry, GA
• 16 May National Police Week Thu, 8 a.m. Douglasville
• 17 May 2019 National Police Week WOD of remembrance. Fri, 4 – 6 a.m. Cross Fit Salt, 100 Commerce Center Dr Brunswick, GA

A 5K race will be held Saturday, the first day of National Police Week, along with the annual police dog memorial service. Sunday events include the Law Enforcement United Bike Ride, the Police Unity Tour and the DC United First Responder Night.

Those events will be followed by a candlelight vigil Monday night on the National Mall and the annual Steve Young National Honor Guard and Pipe Band competitions Tuesday.

The two-hour memorial service will begin around 11 a.m. Wednesday. Annual Tent City events, featuring music, food and adult beverages, will be held Monday through Wednesday at RFK Stadium.

Patch staffers Dan Hampton and Deb Belt contributed to this report.