Officers to get on national memorial after 100+ years
Murphy – The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office is looking for the living relatives of two officers who were killed in the line of duty in order to have their names placed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington.
According to the Cherokee Scout and Asheville Citizen-Times, Charles Watson, 43, a special deputy sheriff; and Allen Dean, 43, another special deputy, were shot on Aug. 18, 1921, in a gun battle on Kisselburg Bridge near Culberson with two moonshiners. A third deputy, Ben Fox, was wounded in the incident.
Watson was reportedly killed instantly, while Dean was transported to a hospital in Copperhill, Tenn. where he succumbed to his wounds on Aug. 20, 1921. Both Watson and Dean were buried at Shady Grove Cemetery.
The suspects were later found in Texas in February 1922 and convicted of second-degree murder.
According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund website, the memorial is the nation’s monument to law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. Dedicated in 1991, the memorial honors federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement officers.
Cherokee County Sheriff Dustin Smith initiated the search and recruited Cameron Killian, property and evidence custodian, to begin the application process earlier this year.
Killian has been working to add local officers killed in the line of duty to the memorial wall. However, in order to add these two officers, the sheriff’s office needs to locate surviving family members.
“In regards to Watson and Dean, who lost their lives over 100 years ago, it is of great importance that their names be engraved on the memorial so that their memory and sacrifice may never be forgotten,” Killian said. “Their names will be among countless other law enforcement officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice protecting our nation’s citizens and upholding its laws.
Officers that have been previously added to the wall include Sheriff Frank Crawford, Officer Zack Ramsey and Murphy Police Chief Mack Carringer.
Killian said for the application a living family member or descendent needs to be listed to verify information, along with a good photograph of each man. If you have any information, contact Killian at cameron.killian@cherokeecounty-nc.gov or at 828-837-2589, Ext. 1445.