Fallen Officers Remembered, Highway Dedicated To Donald Bond
Every day hundreds of men and women in Hamilton County Tennessee put on their uniforms, kiss their loved ones goodbye for the day before patroling our streets and hope they come home safely. But they never know if they will be the next police officer who won't come home alive. Those who have fallen in the line of duty were remembered Thursday during a solemn service filled with such a range of emotions at the Law Enforcement Memorial on Market Street. Like gratitude for those who serve, and heavy hearts for the fallen. As "Amazing Grace" from bagpipes filled the morning air, a riderless horse with an empty saddle and boots reversed that symbolizes the warrior that will never ride again passed by.
Lieutenant Charles Lowery with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office said "this memorial is something to me that is very heartfelt because each one of these individuals has given the ultimate."
One-by-one, officers placed a red rose on the Law Enforcement Memorial for each of the 35 men and women, all bretheren in blue, who were killed in the line of duty since 1879 in Hamilton County. The list included county, city, school patrol and federal officers.
"I used to tell my officers every morning at line up when they would leave, be careful out there. And I want you going home the same way you came to work, with no extra holes," Lowery said.
Chattanooga Police Deputy Chief Skip Vaughn read the names of each fallen officer. When he read the name of officer Gary Dockery of the now-former Walden Police Department, his son Shane laid a Rose in his honor as he proudly wore the Red Bank uniform.
"Biggest thing is nobody has forgotten. To see all these people out is an honor. A lot of us lost families, really no words to really describe," Dockery said as he fought tears.
Hamilton County Sheriff's deputy Donald Bond was killed in the line of duty on a stretch of East Brainerd Road back in September of 2001. Thursday his life and service was honored as the stretch of road now bears his name.
State Representative Vince Dean, a retired Chattanooga Police officer, read a state proclamation announcing the stretch of East Brainerd Road is now the Deputy Donald Kenneth Bond Memorial Highway.
His mother was presented a blue sign like the one that will be installed along East Brainerd Road.
"I pray for them every day, that they'll be safe and everything. And I just, love them all. They're close to my heart, they're part of Don, and if they're part of Don they're part of me and I appreciate what they do for me," Lorraine Bond said.
