‘What they died for is always going to be remembered': Law enforcement gather to honor fallen officers
MADISON COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — More than two dozen members of law enforcement in Madison County have lost their lives in the line of duty since 1880. On Wednesday, the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 6 held its annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service to honor them.
'They will never be forgotten, that what they died for is always going to be remembered, always going to be respected, we're going to come back every year and remember that,' said FOP spokesperson Donny Shaw.
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Shaw told News 19 that, unfortunately, all 26 of the fallen heroes listed on the wall have one thing in common.
'They got up, got dressed, they kissed their loved ones goodbye, thought they would come home,' Shaw said. 'But it just so happened that they had something that took their life.'
Now, the family members and friends of those fallen law enforcement members have this day to come together to honor them.
At the ceremony, a member of each of the families, or a descendant of each family, came forward one at a time to pin a flower to a cross in front of the memorial.
That includes members of fallen Huntsville Police Officer Garrett Crumby's family.
'Seeing his name on the wall, there's a lot of emotions with that,' said Eric Crumby, Garrett Crumby's cousin. 'It's good and kind of sad, but it's a great honor.'
Officer Crumby died in the line of duty on March 28, 2023, after being ambushed while responding to a shots-fired call at an apartment complex in Huntsville.
Huntsville Police Chief Kirk Giles told News 19 that not a day goes by that the department doesn't think about him.
'I think about him, I think about his coworkers that are still struggling, but you know, he was an inspiration to us to be able to go forward with what he stood for,' Chief Giles said.
He said he hopes events like this memorial service remind the community of the daily sacrifice that members of law enforcement make.
'One day is not enough to remember them,' Chief Giles said. 'Hopefully, people will take time to think about that day in and day out. When they see an officer, just tell them thank you for their service.'
The law enforcement memorial service is one of several similar events scheduled across North Alabama in the next week. National Police Week is observed from Sunday, May 11, through Saturday, May 17.
Fallen heroes in Madison County:
U.S. Marshal John B. Hardie. EOW: December 8, 1880
Police Officer William B. Street. EOW: October 8, 1883
Deputy Jailer Tim Anderson. EOW: July 7, 1887
Constable W.A. Russell, Jr. EOW: November 22, 1903
Police Officer Frank McKissack. EOW: May 26, 1916
Deputy R. Hugh Craft. June 12, 1929
Deputy James C. Drake. December 11, 1928
Deputy William T. McMinn. EOW: October 7, 1939
Officer Euell B. Starr. EOW: December 5, 1953
Officer Alan S. Logel, Jr. EOW: November 19, 1956
Officer Emmett C. Bright. EOW: November 5, 1957
Officer Charles E. Drake, Jr. EOW: July 23, 1962
Officer Preston R. Butler. EOW: June 3, 1966
Officer William T. Gaskin. EOW: August 27, 1968
Deputy Kenneth J. McDonald. EOW: May 26, 1975
Officer Billy F. Clardy, Jr. EOW: May 3, 1978
Deputy Thomas R. Lewis. EOW: November 1, 1994
Deputy Billy J. Thrower. EOW: September 17, 1995
Trooper Willis V. Moore. EOW: February 26, 1996
Deputy Haskel G. McLane. EOW: May 31, 2001
Officer Daniel H. Golden. EOW: August 29, 2005
Officer William Eric Freeman. EOW: December 15, 2007
Officer Keith Earle. EOW: April 9, 2018
Officer Billy F. Clardy III. EOW: December 6, 2019
Investigator Steven Ray Finley. EOW: January 14, 2022
Officer Garrett Crumby. EOW: March 28, 2023.
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