ATHENS-On Tuesday, May 14, at 4:30 p.m., the Athens Police Department will host the annual Law Enforcement Memorial to ensure those sacrifices are not forgotten. Because of anticipated storms, the event has been moved inside at Municipal Court at the Athens Police Department.
The event is held in conjunction with the week of May 12 being National Police Week. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15 falls, as National Police Week. Established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962, National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others.
The Athens Police Department will have a solemn roll call and read the names of nine law enforcement officers from its department, the Limestone County Sheriff’s Department and Alabama State Troopers who died in the line of duty. Some lost their lives responding to calls for help. Some lost their lives trying to apprehend a suspect.
The public is welcome to attend the service.
Athens Police Department
● Bedford F. Brackeen
End of Watch: March 24, 1941
Brackeen was sitting in a patrol car with his partner at the old bus stop at Clinton Street when a man
approached their car and started an argument about a prior incident. The man pulled out a revolver and opened
fire. Brackeen exited the car and exchanged shots. Brackeen was shot three times but still attempted to chase
the suspect before collapsing. The suspect was arrested near Nashville and convicted of first-degree murder.
● Billy Daly
End of Watch: Dec. 22, 1964
Daly was on his police motorcycle when a vehicle struck him at U.S. 31 and Forrest Street. He had been with
the department for two years.
● Lt. Benton McLemore
End of Watch: March 7, 1969
A suspect shot and killed McLemore after the officer responded to the suspect’s house to check on his welfare.
The suspect was known to be mentally ill and shot McLemore with a shotgun after the officer knocked on the
door. The suspect killed himself before capture.
● Dewey Wayne Dorsey Sr.
End of Watch: Feb. 11, 1989
Dorsey died from injuries sustained in an automobile accident while transporting blood to Athens-Limestone
Hospital. The hospital treated and released Dorsey, but a blood clot developed and killed him.
● Sgt. Larry Wayne Russell and officer Tony Mims
End of Watch: Friday, Jan. 2, 2004
The men responded to a 911 call made by a man with a history of mental illness. The man opened fire as each
officer pulled into the driveway, killing Mims first and Russell second. The bullets pierced their vehicles and
bullet proof vests. The suspect died in prison.
Limestone County Sheriff’s Department
● Chief Deputy James Henry Eubank
End of Watch: Thursday, June 13, 1918
A suspect shot and killed Eubank while he searched a house for a weapon.
Troopers
● David E. Temple
End of Watch: Sept. 13, 1979
A man shot and killed Temple after the officer pulled up to him in Limestone County in an attempt to arrest him
for a car lot robbery in Decatur. The man leaned out of his car and opened fire on Temple. The man then got out
of the car and walked to where Temple lay on the ground and shot him several more times. The suspect fled the
scene and led police on a chase through Madison. Police shot and killed him after he wounded another officer.
● Simmie L. Jeffries
End of Watch: Friday, Dec. 21, 1984
Jeffries died from an accident when his patrol car collided with a tractor trailer in Limestone County.
