12 fallen officers honored by the Huntsville PD for National Police Week

282240022 374895911348662 8770435070705540126 n — The Huntsville Police Department honored 12 fallen officers Tuesday to commemorate National Police Week. (Huntsville PD)

This week is National Police Week, and the Huntsville Police Department commemorated the occasion by honoring 12 fallen police officers from the Huntsville PD.

Chief Kirk Giles and Command Staff honored HPD’s fallen officers along with the Huntsville Police Citizens Foundation, Mayor Tommy Battle, Alabama State Representative Rex Reynolds and Huntsville City Council members.

Making the ‘ultimate sacrifice’

281882247 374895831348670 4035837752125947986 n — HPD’s Fallen Officer Memorial was built by the Huntsville Police Citizens Foundation, a nonprofit funded by a diverse group of citizens and businesses in the community. (Huntsville PD)

The memorial service has been an annual event each May at the Fallen Officer Memorial downtown. HPD’s Fallen Officer Memorial was built by the Huntsville Police Citizens Foundation, a nonprofit funded by a diverse group of citizens and businesses in the community. The foundation provides immediate assistance to families of HPD officers during emergencies.

“By being here today, we ensure that we remember their names and the sacrifices they made for each of us. We show our appreciation for their heroism and we must remember that public safety, freedom and prosperity come with a high price.”
Huntsvlle Police Chief Kirk Giles

The 12 officers honored

281944722 374895951348658 6115601844417389361 n 1 — Twelve Huntsville Police Department officers have died in the line of duty, spanning from 1883 to 2019. (Huntsville PD)

The memorial service honored the 12 Huntsville PD officers who have died in the line of duty, spanning from Officer William J. Street in 1883 to Agent Billy Fred Clardy III in 2019.

Below is a list of the 12 HPD officers who lost their lives in the line of duty:

Officer William J. Street – End of Watch, Monday, Oct. 8, 1883
Officer Frank McKissack – End of Watch, Friday, May 26, 1916
Officer Ewell B. Starr – End of Watch, Saturday, Dec. 5, 1953
Officer Alan S. Logel, Jr. – End of Watch, Monday, Nov. 19, 1956
Officer Charles E. Drake, Jr. – End of Watch, Monday, July 23, 1962
Officer Preston R. Butler – End of Watch, Friday, June 3, 1966
Officer William T. Gaskin – End of Watch, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 1968
Officer Billy Fred Clardy, Jr. – End of Watch, Wednesday, May 3, 1978
Officer Daniel Howard Golden – End of Watch, Monday, Aug. 29, 2005
Officer William Eric Freeman – End of Watch, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2007
Officer Keith O’Neal Earle – End of Watch, Monday, April 9, 2018
Agent Billy Fred Clardy III – End of Watch, Friday, Dec. 6, 2019

Follow Hville Blast on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you don’t miss announcements on what’s happening in and around Huntsville.