On the second anniversary of his murder, the Georgia Public Safety Training Center’s (GPSTC) Athens Regional Academy today held its inaugural Northeast Georgia Run to Remember in honor of Senior Police Officer Elmer Basco “Buddy” Christian, III, an Athens‐Clarke County police officer, who was killed in the line of duty on March 22, 2011 while responding to an incident involving the shooting of another officer.
Cadets in GPSTC Athens’ Basic Mandate Law Enforcement Training sessions 259 and 260 participated in the 5K, which is scheduled to become an annual event designed to honor a different fallen officer each year.
“We were looking for an active way to remember fallen officers in Northeast Georgia,” said GPSTC Instructor Jeff Bray, who helped to organize the run. “We chose to commemorate Buddy’s death this year, not only to honor a heroic man who served selflessly, but also to remind cadets in Basic Training of the serious commitment they are making in their choice to become law enforcement officers,” continued Bray.
Members of the Athens‐Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD) also participated in the run and helped organize the event. “The early morning fellowship was a fitting way to honor the memory of SPO Christian and his service to the community,” explained ACCPD Major Mike Hunsiger. “Our personnel look forward to being part of the runs in the future and appreciate the GPSTC staff for their efforts to honor fallen officers.”