Fire-Rescue had the honor to participate in the dedication ceremony for the local Law Enforcement Officers Memorial which has been placed on the Courthouse grounds at 101 Hampton Street. Ladder 6 and Ladder 19 were positioned to hold the US Flag over Hampton Street. The beautiful black monument was erected Thursday and protected with a black veil until Saturday morning. Several hundred people attended the dedication service conducted by Charles Roberts and State Trooper Rob Hardee. Both have been working on the project for several years along with many other individuals, after Roberts approached County Council with the vision to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to the community. Much research and public participation was involved in identifying the ten local and state officers who have been killed in the line of duty while protecting our citizens in Colleton County. The project group raised the funds themselves over the past two years. The monument has been placed on the southwest corner of the Courthouse grounds at the corner of North Jefferies Blvd and Hampton Street.  

The ceremony began with the escort of the families of the fallen officers approaching the Courthouse from the east. Each female family member was given a red rose as they walked up the front lawn. Retired Walterboro Police Chief and Pastor Tom McJunkin opened the service with a prayer which was followed by Roberts’ dedication. Many dignitary’s were present as well. Megan Marvin sang our National Anthem which was followed by a representative from each Law Enforcement Agency reading the name of the deceased officer from their agency, then standing at attention in two rows on each side of the monument. The officers, lead by Hardee, then walked past the monument removing the veil as they passed. The service was concluded with the SC Highway Patrol honor guard firing a twenty-one gun salute, followed by a Trooper playing Taps. After the service, many family members placed their roses at the base of the monument.

The inscription on the monument reads, “Dedicated as a lasting tribute to all Colleton County Law Enforcement Officers who have died in the line of duty and to those who risk their lives while protecting our community”.

The base is inscribed with, “It is not how officers die that make them heroes, but how they lived”. The officers who died in the line of duty include:

·         1940 – Sheriff’s Deputy Herman Saunders

·         1949 – Walterboro Police Officer Marion Nettles

·         1949 – DNR Officer Frank Floyd

·         1968 – Walterboro Police Officer Frank Knapp

·         1975 – SLED Agent Robert Williams

       1977 – Sheriff’s Deputy Stephen Breland

·         1978 – Walterboro Police Officer William Breland

·         1979 – Highway Patrol State Trooper Willie Peoples

             1989 – Cottageville Police Chief Jerry Shelton

·          2008 – Sheriff’s Deputy Dennis Compton