Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
May 15, 2008 issue
Story by Garrett Simmons
It is a reality every officer must accept – the dangers of the job – the chance that a true life or death situation may arise. Most officers never face that moment, but for those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, we are forever grateful.
On Friday, May 9, Avery County law enforcement paid tribute to officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty by hosting a ceremony on the town square in Newland. Officers from the Avery County Sheriff’s Office, and the Banner Elk, Beech Mountain, Elk Park, Newland and Sugar Mountain Police Departments attended the ceremony.
The list of officers killed in the line of duty and honored on Friday included Constable Zebulon Winters (01-01-1912), Deputy William Burleson (04-26-1923), Deputy Hardy Coffee (04-06-1936), Deputy Alvin Jones (08-05-1939), Deputy Max Daniels (05-16-1949) and Lieutenant Deputy Glenn Hick (02-20-2003).
Family members of Deputy Hicks, including his three grandchildren, attended the ceremony. Hicks was shot and killed in February, 2003, when he and his partner, Deputy Ralph Coffey, responded to a 9-1-1 call from a mentally disturbed suspect. Hicks had been a reserve deputy for the Avery County Sheriff’s Office for 5 years, and had been a full-time deputy for 3 years.
Coffey was also honored at the ceremony by being presented with the Purple Heart for injuries he received the night Hicks was killed.
The twenty-fourth Judicial Honor Guard, a group made up of deputies and officers from Avery, Burke, Caldwell and Watauga County Sheriff’s Office’s, and Beech Mountain, Boone, Burnsville, Newland and Sugar Mountain Police Departments, conducted the ceremony. The honor guard performed a traditional 21-gun salute and played of taps. Watauga Sheriff Hagaman also assisted in the presentation of a wreath to honor the fallen officers.
Avery County Sheriff Kevin Frye said he was proud of the dedication of the newly formed honor guard and what the group meant for new officers. “We now can, as law enforcement officers, pay tribute and respect to those who have gone before and paid the ultimate sacrifice,” he said.
The ceremony of honor was held in lieu of the following National Police Week. During the national week of recognition, Thursday, May 15 is set aside to honor fallen officers. Sheriff Frye asked that citizens remember to, “fly your flags at half-mast, and take the time to tell officers in your county and towns just how much your appreciate their service.”
In his closing remarks, Frye personally thanked the Avery County Police Chiefs and Sheriff Hagaman for the wreath presentation, and recognized the positive union between local law enforcement groups. “As we work more closely together than ever before, we show our citizens that we are united in the effort to make our county safer for all of us.”