Georgia Honors Fallen HeroesGovernor Nathan Deal gave the keynote address at the Georgia Public Safety Memorial Ceremony at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) in Forsyth. Twelve men and women who died while on duty as public safety officers were honored for their bravery and dedication during the ceremony. Their names were added to the Georgia Public Safety Memorial Wall, located in the Memorial Plaza Courtyard at GPSTC.

“We cannot begin to express our gratitude, as a state, for the sacrifice made by the men and women whose names now appear on this Wall,” said Deal. “We will forever mourn the loss of these brave souls, who laid down their lives to serve the citizens of Georgia.”

The Georgia Public Safety Memorial was dedicated in 1997 to recognize public safety professionals from all disciplines including law enforcement, fire services, emergency medical services, corrections, and  prosecutors who lost their lives in the line of duty. Honorees are nominated by their agency or the public and are approved by the Georgia Public Safety Memorial Committee and the Board of Public Safety.

“Today, we pay tribute to these fallen officers as well as their families,” said Georgia Public Safety Memorial Committee Chairman Ben Hinson. “They made the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of excellence and they served honorably with courage and dignity.”

The honorees this year were:

  • William A. Hyers, Adel Police Department, died May 26, 1902
  • Franklin Leland Williams, Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, died August 11, 1918
  • Walter Brakes, Waycross Police Department, died August 26, 1920
  • Donald Moon, Athens-Clarke County Police Department, died November 3, 1963
  • Robert Shane Wilson, Doraville Police Department, died November 14, 2011
  • Gail Denise Thomas, Atlanta Police Department, died January 24, 2012
  • Robert Warren “Bobby” Crapse, Sr., Bryan County Sheriff’s Office, died June 15, 2012
  • Larry Lee Stell, Georgia Department of Corrections, died October 11, 2012
  • Richard Joseph Halford, Atlanta Police Department, died November 3, 2012
  • Shawn A. Smiley, Atlanta Police Department, died November 3, 2012
  • Elgin LeVarn Daniel, Henry County Police Department, died November 12, 2012
  • Sean Louis Callahan, Clayton County Police Department, died December 18, 2012
For more information, contact: Ben Hinson, Public Safety Memorial Committee Chairman (478) 747-8211