Greenville Honors Fallen Law Enforcement

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The loss of an officer is hard to bear, but it happens all too frequently. An entire community can be affected in an instant when a law enforcement officer dies.

“Sometimes they don’t make it to retirement. You know, they’re killed in the line of duty,” Police Chief Lonzo Ingram said.

He and Butler County Sheriff Kenny Harden are doing what they can to make sure the officers they have lost are never forgotten. Along with District Attorney Charlotte Tesmer, they unveiled the newest names to be added onto the Greenville/Butler County Fallen Officers Memorial.

“You know, a hundred years from now, when we’re all gone and our ancestors don’t even know our names, that someone will still see this monument and recognize those names,” Ingram added. He announced the addition of one officer’s name to the police side of the memorial. Tesmer and Harden added three names to the Sheriff’s side, bringing the total to six names.

One of those names is John Sanders, who passed away in 1939. Sanders was killed after jumping off a moving vehicle to catch a criminal. He managed to catch the escapee, but later succumbed to injuries sustained in his fall. His act of bravery is something his family has never forgotten.

“None of us got to know him, because he died in the line of duty when my father was five years old. And we’re just very grateful the city has honored him in this way,” said Linda Daughtry. Daughtry is Sanders’ granddaughter. She and her family believe every officer should be treated with the utmost respect.

“I think we should honor them in every single way. I think we should salute them when they go by!”she said. “They do things that none of us want to do. And in this day and time, I think they deserve more credit than they get.”

The memorial originally had two names carved into brick, but had to be remodeled to add the new names. Ingram and Harden said the new design will allow more names to be added on in the future, even though that is something they hope they can avoid.

“The officers family will know that they’ll never be forgotten, even after we’re long gone,” Sheriff Harden said. “Those officers will still be remembered for giving the ultimate price.”

There is a lot of research needed to be done before a name can be added to the memorial, both men added. Ingram said he is currently checking into another fallen officer, whose family called him last week. Ingram said once he can absolutely prove the officer died while on duty, the name can later be added to the memorial.