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Fallen Officer Memorial

In remembrance and honor of our fallen heroes; the law enforcement officers listed below each gave their lives in the line of duty while working in Anson County.

On July 20, 1910 Officer Sings was a policeman in McFarlan when he went to serve a warrant on an individual in a railroad work camp. He had no problem arresting that individual, but was confronted by a second person demanding he release his prisoner. Officer Sings did not release his prisoner and was shot three times, mortally wounded and died a few hours later. Newspaper records of the event are incomplete and it is unclear if the suspect was eventually captured and tried.

On January 16, 1926, Mr. Faulkner was a Constable in the Peachland area, when he went on a raid of a liquor still. During the raid, several suspects fled the scene and Constable Faulkner was shot and killed by one of the bootleggers during the foot chase. Two suspects were eventually captured, tried and sentenced to lengthy prison sentences.

Trooper Thompson graduated from the first NC Highway Patrol School on July 1, 1929. On July 2, 1929, Trooper Thompson was on his way to his assigned post, riding a state issued motorcycle. While passing through Anson County, a pickup truck driven by a 13 year old boy from Albemarle, ran a stop sign, striking the motorcycle and killing Trooper Thompson. Trooper Thompson was the first NC Highway Patrol Trooper killed in the line of duty.

On August 31, 1973, Deputy Sheriff Harney, along with other deputies, responded to a call off Highway 109 south, near the SC line, where a mental subject was shooting at passing motorists. Officers staged in and around the scene and were subsequently able to talk the shooter into surrendering. Officers noticed Deputy Harney on the ground and unresponsive. He was immediately rushed to the local hospital, but was pronounced dead of an apparent heart attack.

On February 12, 1977, Chief Deputy Gilbert Dean had responded with other deputies to a disturbance call where an individual was drunk and disorderly. A scuffle ensued in attempting to arrest the suspect. Shortly after the suspect was subdued and in custody, Deputy Dean collapsed and was rushed to the local hospital, but was pronounced dead of an apparent heart attack.

On December 22, 1984, Deputy Horne responded to a call where an individual was shooting in the neighborhood. Horne, along with another officer talked to the individual through his front door but he refused to come outside. While officers were waiting for other assistance, and standing behind their patrol vehicles as shields, the suspect fired one shot from inside the residence with a shotgun, striking Deputy Horne in the face and head. He was rushed to the local hospital but died of his injuries the next morning. Suspect was subsequently arrested by deputies, tried and later died in prison.

Chief Deputy Jesse Pratt was on his way to work early one morning on September 14, 2001. He was killed in an automobile accident, when his Sheriff’s vehicle was struck by another vehicle.

SHP Trooper Oliver died on March 24, 2004, as the results of injuries received in an automobile accident that occurred in Anson County 18 months earlier. Trooper Oliver’s vehicle struck a bridge abutment, while he was responding to a call during a rain storm.