Attorney General Jeff Jackson holds ceremony to honor fallen officers
This is an annual ceremony that pays tribute to officers who died in the line of duty last year as well as the family members of officers who died in service in previous years.
'These officers gave their life in service to this state and its people,' Attorney General Jeff Jackson said. 'I'm grateful to be able to have spent time with their families and their colleagues today to honor our fallen officers and to express our gratitude for the courage and sacrifice of every public safety officer. I thank the North Carolina Justice Academy and the Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office for hosting this moving memorial.'
Russ Ferguson, United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, was the guest speaker for this year's ceremony. Ferguson was appointed by U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi in March 2025, and served as the chief federal law enforcement officer for 32 counties across western N.C., including the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
'It is a privilege to spend time today doing publicly what we in law enforcement do every day – honor our fallen heroes who sacrificed their lives to protect others,' U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, Russ Ferguson said. 'We are so thankful for our brave law enforcement officers and their families for the risks they endure on a daily basis to protect our community.'
The officers who died in service to the people of North Carolina last year were:
Deputy Christopher Shayne Johnson, Harnett County Sheriff's Office.
Investigator William Alden Elliott, North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.
Officer Joshua Eyer, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
Investigator Samuel Poloche, North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas M. Weeks, U.S. Marshals Service.
Major Michelle Lynn Quintero, Madison County Sheriff's Office.
Deputy Charles James 'Jim' Lau, Macon County Sheriff's Office.
Officer Michael Horan, Greensboro Police Department.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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