Georgia Law Enforcement Memorial Wall

Thursday, April 11, 2013

A ceremony was held at the Atlanta Public Safety Headquarters in downtown on Thursday honoring three Atlanta Police Officers who lost their lives in 2012 while in the line of duty. Officers Gail Thomas, Shawn A. Smiley and Richard J. Halford’s names were added to the Georgia Law Enforcement Memorial Wall during the ceremony and family members removed the coverings in front of a mostly law enforcement crowd. The wall itself is a mobile unit which travels to different locations throughout the state displaying the 688 names of officers from different departments who have lost their lives since the 1970s. The Fallen Heroes Memorial Tour is sponsored by Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club along with Concerns of Police Survivors to raise awareness for the 22nd Annual Georgia Police Memorial Ride on April 26-27, 2013.

Atlanta Police Officer Patrick Magrum (left) wipes tears from his eyes as he holds William Smiley, the son of fallen Atlata Police Officer Shawn Smiley, on his knee during the unveiling of three officers' names on the Georgia Law Enforcement Memorial Wall outside of the Public Safety Headquarters in Atlanta on Thursday, April 11, 2013.

Atlanta Police Officer Patrick Magrum (left) wipes tears from his eyes as he holds William Smiley, the son of fallen Atlata Police Officer Shawn Smiley, on his knee during the unveiling of three officers’ names on the Georgia Law Enforcement Memorial Wall outside of the Public Safety Headquarters in Atlanta on Thursday, April 11, 2013.

 

Ed Christian, president of Chapter 7 of the Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, speaks during the unveiling of three officers' names on the Georgia Law Enforcement Memorial Wall outside of the Public Safety Headquarters in Atlanta on Thursday, April 11, 2013.

Ed Christian, president of Chapter 7 of the Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, speaks during the unveiling of three officers’ names on the Georgia Law Enforcement Memorial Wall outside of the Public Safety Headquarters in Atlanta on Thursday, April 11, 2013.

 

Atlanta Police Officer Gail Thomas' name is covered with tape before it is unveiled along with officer Shawn A. Smiley and officer Richard J. Halford on the Georgia Law Enforcement Memorial Wall outside of the Public Safety Headquarters in Atlanta on Thursday, April 11, 2013.

Atlanta Police Officer Gail Thomas’ name is covered with tape before it is unveiled along with officer Shawn A. Smiley and officer Richard J. Halford on the Georgia Law Enforcement Memorial Wall outside of the Public Safety Headquarters in Atlanta on Thursday, April 11, 2013.

 

George Turner (left), chief of the Atlanta Police Department, speaks during the unveiling of three officers' names on the Georgia Law Enforcement Memorial Wall outside of the Public Safety Headquarters in Atlanta on Thursday, April 11, 2013.

George Turner (left), chief of the Atlanta Police Department, speaks during the unveiling of three officers’ names on the Georgia Law Enforcement Memorial Wall outside of the Public Safety Headquarters in Atlanta on Thursday, April 11, 2013.

 

Vivian Halford pulls the tape covering her ex husband Richard's name during the unveiling of three officers' names on the Georgia Law Enforcement Memorial Wall outside of the Public Safety Headquarters in Atlanta on Thursday, April 11, 2013.

Vivian Halford pulls the tape covering her ex husband Richard’s name during the unveiling of three officers’ names on the Georgia Law Enforcement Memorial Wall outside of the Public Safety Headquarters in Atlanta on Thursday, April 11, 2013.

 

Chief George Turner (left) watches as Kimberly Freeman and Trinia Favors pull the tape covering Gail Thomas' name during the unveiling of three officers' names on the Georgia Law Enforcement Memorial Wall outside of the Public Safety Headquarters in Atlanta on Thursday, April 11, 2013.

Chief George Turner (left) watches as Kimberly Freeman and Trinia Favors pull the tape covering Gail Thomas’ name during the unveiling of three officers’ names on the Georgia Law Enforcement Memorial Wall outside of the Public Safety Headquarters in Atlanta on Thursday, April 11, 2013.

 

William Smiley (front), his sister Elizabeth, other sister Victoria and mother Terra pull away the tape covering their father Shawn's name with Atlanta Chief of Police George Turner (left) during the unveiling of three officers' names on the Georgia Law Enforcement Memorial Wall outside of the Public Safety Headquarters in Atlanta on Thursday, April 11, 2013.

William Smiley (front), his sister Elizabeth, other sister Victoria and mother Terra pull away the tape covering their father Shawn’s name with Atlanta Chief of Police George Turner (left) during the unveiling of three officers’ names on the Georgia Law Enforcement Memorial Wall outside of the Public Safety Headquarters in Atlanta on Thursday, April 11, 2013.

 

Kimberly Freeman (left) looks down at the name of Gail Thomas, her god daughter, as she stands next to Trinia Favors, Thomas' aunt, during the unveiling of three officers' names on the Georgia Law Enforcement Memorial Wall outside of the Public Safety Headquarters in Atlanta on Thursday, April 11, 2013.

Kimberly Freeman (left) looks down at the name of Gail Thomas, her god daughter, as she stands next to Trinia Favors, Thomas’ aunt, during the unveiling of three officers’ names on the Georgia Law Enforcement Memorial Wall outside of the Public Safety Headquarters in Atlanta on Thursday, April 11, 2013.

 

Victoria Smiley (left), her mother Terra and her sister Elizabeth bow their heads in prayer as Atlanta Police Chaplain Reginald Wilborn speaks during the unveiling of three officers' names on the Georgia Law Enforcement Memorial Wall outside of the Public Safety Headquarters in Atlanta on Thursday, April 11, 2013.

Victoria Smiley (left), her mother Terra and her sister Elizabeth bow their heads in prayer as Atlanta Police Chaplain Reginald Wilborn speaks during the unveiling of three officers’ names on the Georgia Law Enforcement Memorial Wall outside of the Public Safety Headquarters in Atlanta on Thursday, April 11, 2013.

 

Atlanta Police Officer Sharon Leonard (center) wipes tears from her eyes during the unveiling of three officers' names on the Georgia Law Enforcement Memorial Wall outside of the Public Safety Headquarters in Atlanta on Thursday, April 11, 2013.

Atlanta Police Officer Sharon Leonard (center) wipes tears from her eyes during the unveiling of three officers’ names on the Georgia Law Enforcement Memorial Wall outside of the Public Safety Headquarters in Atlanta on Thursday, April 11, 2013.