ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) —
A memorial for fallen law enforcement officers is planned for 6 p.m. Thursday in front of the Henderson County Courthouse at 200 N Grove St. in Hendersonville.
It’s part of National Police Week, which runs through Saturday.
On Wednesday, President Joe Biden took part in ceremonies outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and events are continuing at local events around the country.
“Humans policing humans will never be a perfect solution anywhere,” Henderson County Sheriff Lowell Griffin said. “However, if the people policing have the right motive in their heart, then the public wins. The men and women of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office have a huge heart and I wouldn’t trade this group for any other group in the world.”
The sheriff’s office has a total of 240 positions, with 160 of those being sworn positions.
The first sheriff of Henderson County was appointed in 1839, according to county officials. Based on their research, there have been four line-of-duty deaths in the county.
Deputy Sheriff H.L. Rummus Capps – May 29, 1926
Sheriff W.G. McCall – July 8, 1956
Detective Randall “Shane” Thomas – Dec. 28, 2012
Deputy Sheriff Ryan Phillip Hendrix – Sept. 10, 2020
In Buncombe County, the sheriff’s office took to Facebook to mark National Police Week.
“During National Police Week, we salute the bravery of our county’s law enforcement officers and pay tribute to the fallen heroes whose courage will never be forgotten. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office deputies and all law enforcement officers in Buncombe County for their unwavering dedication and bravery in keeping our communities safe,” the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office posted on its Facebook page.
Asheville Police Department, which was organized in 1849 and formally created by ordinance on Nov. 1, 1875, has had seven officers killed in the line of duty.
Officer Charles Robert Blackstock and Officer James William Bailey – Nov. 13, 1906
Officer Edward McConnell – July 7, 1911
Officer Major Hubert Worley – Oct. 29, 1933
Chief of Police Harold Enloe – Nov. 24, 1951
Officer Alfred Baird – April 16, 1972
Officer Robert Bingaman – Oct. 29, 2013
“In honor of National Police Week, which is observed May 12-18, 2024, we would like to pay tribute to law enforcement officers throughout the nation who have lost their lives in the line of duty. #NationalPoliceWeek2024 Thank you to all the law enforcement officers in our county, region, and nation who continue to serve honorably every day,” a post on the department’s Facebook page said.
The Hendersonville Police Department observed Peace Officers Memorial Day on Wednesday with a brief ceremony to pay tribute to the officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the community.