REMEMBERING THE FALLEN: CCSO pays tribute to fallen officers with special ceremony on square

Published 9:15 am Wednesday, May 17, 2023

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Covington County Sheriff Blake Turman and the CCSO paid tribute to police officers, troopers, and deputies who passed away while on duty at a fallen hero ceremony at the Square on Monday, May 15.

District Attorney Walt Merrell read a passage from Ecclesiastes chapter 3 beginning with verse 1 in acknowledgment of those losing their lives while giving the ultimate sacrifice.

“We honor those men and women in brown, blue, and gray who are so faithful to answer the call of duty no matter the circumstances. I say as an encouragement to you men and women who dutifully wear the badge that every one of those allowances for time fits you to a T. I know that many of you grow weary of the toil, but yours is a good fight. Every day, I challenge you to fight the good fight, keep your faith, and always remember the race you run will be finished. We, the community, thank you for your service and acknowledge the risks you take every day, so we can go home to our families. Thank you seems inadequate but is sometimes most appropriate to just be simple,” Merrell said.

A memorial wall was erected on the grounds of the Covington County Courthouse on May 15, 1998, in honor of Police Memorial Day. The names of fallen officers listed on the wall are as follows:

  • Officers Lee Clark and Edward Nix of the Opp Police Department from 1927
  • Officer Arnold Jackson Dorman of the Opp Police Department from 1946
  • Sergeant Raymond M. Carlton of the Alabama State Troopers from 1965
  • Trooper Brooks D. Lawson of the Alabama State Troopers from 1969
  • Officer Dalton King of the Red Level Police Department from 1970
  • Trooper Kenyon Lassiter of the Alabama State Troopers from 1974
  • Chief Shirley C. Turman of the Opp Police Department from 1975
  • Chief Jerry Brannon of the Opp Police Department from 1984
  • Sergeant David Campbell of the Andalusia Police Department from 1984
  • Chief Fred Burdick of the Opp Police Department from 1986
  • Lieutenant Troy Woodall of the Alabama Beverage Control Board from 1990
  • Officer Hubert Anderson Sr. of the Red Level Police Department from 2003
  • Officer Michael Brandon Lassiter of the Covington County Sheriff’s Department from 2004
  • Deputy William Heath Kelley of the Covington County Sheriff’s Department from 2014

“These men have given the ultimate sacrifice, and the least we can do is to pay homage to them this day. I ask that each and every one of you go by the memorial and see those names. They did everything they could to keep you safe and to give you a better community to live in. It’s been an honor to meet some of the families I’ve never met before, and I’ve known some of them all my life. We want you to know that as a police officer, we are always here to keep you protected. We are not an enemy and will always be your friend,” Turman said.

Most of the fallen officers were represented by their families and loved ones at the ceremony.

The Covington County Sheriff’s Department is located at 290 Hillcrest Drive in Andalusia. For more information call 334-428-2640.