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Jayne Kirkpatrick, Public Affairs Director
Prepared by: Christopher Riley, Senior Public Affairs Specialist
For more information: Dennis Lane, Raleigh Police Memorial Foundation, 919-369-7491
April 25, 2014
Police Memorial Dedication Honors the Memory of
Raleigh’s Eight Fallen Officers
Since 2009, the Raleigh Police Memorial Foundation has worked to make a long-standing promise a reality, to honor and keep the memory sacred of the officers who made the ultimate sacrifice serving Raleigh. The promise was fulfilled in the dedication of the Raleigh Police Memorial, on April 25, at the entrance to the Avery C. Upchurch Government Complex, 222 W. Hargett St.
The memorial, created by Raleigh’s Clearscapes, conveys a message of honor, appreciation and remembrance rather than loss and sorrow. The $500,000 memorial features 21 stone structures of granite representing the community. Flowing out of the community is a 60-foot water table reflecting the sky. The water table also features eight holes or voids representing the eight officers who have died in the line of duty in Raleigh. Thomas Sayre and his team of artists and architects at Clearscapes see the reflecting pool as representative of the ideal that Raleigh’s officers serve.
Welcoming remarks and recognition of family members and special guests were presented by Major Deborah Regentin. Speakers included Thomas Sayreof Clearscapes, and City of Raleigh Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown. Dennis Lane, president of the Raleigh Police Memorial Foundation and a retired Raleigh Police Department major, delivered the dedication address. Jim Sughrue, public information officer for the City of Raleigh Police Department served as the master of ceremonies. The invocation was offered by Father Mark Reamer from The Catholic Community of Saint Francis of Assisi. The benediction was given by the Rev. Paul Anderson, Raleigh Police chaplain and pastor of The Fountain of Raleigh Fellowship. Captain Kimberly Swinson conducted a ceremonial roll call of the fallen officers during the memorial wreath laying and Officer Randy Miller tolled the remembrance bell.
Officer B.B. Gartin, recited the poem, “Stand the Line” during the ceremonial candlelight vigil. The poem, written by Special Agent Kevin Donnnelly of the United State Drug Enforcement Agency, pays tribute not only to fallen officers, but to those that will take their place in protecting and serving the community. As part of the dedication, candles were lit and raised in unison to remember the fallen police officers. “We felt having the candlelight vigil would be a most appropriate way to honor and remember these police officers” said Raleigh Police Capt. Kimberly Swinson, an organizer of the Raleigh Police Memorial dedication ceremony. “These eight officers gave their lives to protect our city and its citizens. This dedication service and police memorial are important not only to remember our fallen officers, but they are important to these officers’ families, current police officers and the community as a whole.”
Officer Kendal Strachan rendered the national anthem. A special musical selection was performed by Ms. Yolanda Long, accompanied by Officer David Dodge on the drum. Wake and District Pipes and Drums led a processional of current and retired City of Raleigh Police Officers and the principle ceremony participants to the dedication. Wake and District Pipes and Drums also performed “Hard Times Come Again No More” during the lighting of the candles for the candlelight vigil. Members of the Raleigh Police Department color guard presented the colors. They are: Officer D.V. Hicks, Officer R.S. Williams and Officer J. Dozier.
Members of Team Raleigh that will participate in the Law Enforcement United Bike Ride, served as escorts for the family members of the fallen officers, unveiled the memorial and placed wreaths by the memorial.
The members of Team Raleigh are:
Majors Dennis Lane (retired), Debbie Regentin;
Captain Kim Swinson;
Lieutenants Narley Cashwell, Jonas Cherry, Larry Clark;
Sergeants Robert Benjamin, Dedric Bond and James Dunn;
Detectives Randy Miller (retired), David Nance, Henton Morton and Chris Roberts;
Officers Keljin Adams, Russell Copersito, John Dozier, Vince Espinoza, Todd Leonard and Jason Yardley;
City of Raleigh, Division of Criminal Information Coordinator Mary Ann Padgett; and,
North Carolina State Highway Patrol Trooper Brian Lane.
Family members of the honored officers attending the dedication included:
Officer Tom Crabtree - Mike and Charlotte Atkinson grandnephew and grandniece;
Officer Robert Sparks - widow Lois Mills and stepdaughter, Cathy Mills;
Officer James Allen - widow Jackie Randsell and husband Bobby, brother Ray Allen, retired North Carolina State Highway Patrol and his wife Joan, niece Melissa Hogan and husband Glenn, retired North Carolina State Highway Patrol;
Officer James Lee - brother Eddie Lee and sister Marsha;
Officer Delma Adams - widow Sandra Spargo;
Officer Denise Holden - parents Walter and Polly Holden and sisters Ronda and Tabitha Holden;
Detective Paul Hale - parents Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hale, daughter Stephanie Norris, husband Josh and daughter Jessie Tesh, husband Adam; and,
Officer Charles Paul - mother, Trudy Paul.
The Raleigh Police Officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty are:
Tom G. Crabtree – End of Watch: September 1, 1922
Age: 36 Length of Service: Five Years Population of Raleigh: 25,000
President of the United States: Warren G. Harding Mayor of Raleigh: T.B. Eldridge
Tom G. Crabtree started his career of public service as a member of the Raleigh Fire Brigade. He was a 31-year-old father when he became part of the Raleigh Police Department in October 1917. He made Detective in 1922.
On August 31 of that year, Det. Crabtree was to a surveillance team. That was the day that 19-year-old Charles Kluttz set about robbing and assaulting a taxi driver. Mr. Kluttz forced the taxi driver to drive him around town before stopping at a gas station on Hillsborough Street. Shortly after stopping for fuel, two gunshots rang out. As part of his surveillance duties Det. Crabtree was walking in the vicinity and ran to lend assistance. He encountered a subject sitting in the rear of a taxicab. As Det. Crabtree stepped on the taxi’s running board, he was shot multiple times. At that time, the taxi driver fled and Mr. Kluttz shot at him as well.
Mr. Kluttz turned himself in and blamed his crimes on years of drug and alcohol abuse. He pled guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Despite the residents of Raleigh raising $6,000 for their benefit, Det. Crabtree’s four sons – Thomas, Lewis, Fred and Jack – were sent to an orphanage in Ohio. After serving in World War II, Thomas made his home in Raleigh and worked as a manager for the Coco-Cola Bottling Company.
Robert Earl Sparks – End of Watch: March 8, 1968
Age: 27 Length of Service: Not Quite Six Months Population of Raleigh: 110,000
President of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson Mayor of Raleigh: Travis Tomlinson
Robert “Pistol” Earl Sparks grew up on a 42-acre farm in central Halifax County, dreaming of a career with the North Carolina Highway Patrol. Just as Detective Crabtree, Officer Sparks served as a firefighter. He was a founding member of the Darlington, N.C., Volunteer Fire Department.
At the height of the Vietnam War, Robert volunteered for service in the United States Air Force and served as an ordnance specialist in Da Nang. Upon his return home, Officer Sparks pursued his dream of being a N.C. Highway Patrol Officer only to learn he stood one-half inch shy of the required height.
The Highway Patrol’s loss was the City of Raleigh’s gain. Officer Sparks joined the Raleigh Police Department on September 11, 1967. Always a lover of cars and motors, Officer Sparks quickly joined the department’s motorcycle unit.
On March 8, 1968, Officer Sparks pulled out onto Ridge Road to stop a speeding vehicle. While leaning into a curve, the running board struck the pavement, causing the motorcycle to spin out of control. Robert’s helmet was thrown off, resulting in severe head injuries that claimed his life a few hours after the crash.
Robert was survived by his wife, Lois and his three-year-old daughter, Susan.
James Gale Lee – End of Watch: December 5, 1968
Age: 23 Length of Service: Four Years Population of Raleigh: 110,000
President of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson Mayor of Raleigh: Travis Tomlinson
James Gale Lee grew up on the family farm in Dunn. He attended Fayetteville Technical Community College until the age of 19 when he made his way to Raleigh where he joined the North Carolina National Guard and the Raleigh Police Department. Because of his tender age, Officer Lee supplemented desk personnel until he reached the age of 21 and could begin patrol duties with full law enforcement powers.
Officer Lee’s maturity was a deciding factor in his gaining entry into the Raleigh Police Department at such a young age. That maturity also made Officer Lee a legendary big brother to his brother Eddie and sisters Kathy and little Marsha – just seven years old when Officer Lee died.
James “Jimmy” Wade Allen-- End of Watch: December 5, 1968
Age: 24 Length of Service: Four Years Population of Raleigh: 110,000
President of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson Mayor of Raleigh: Travis Tomlinson
James Wade Allen was the valedictorian of his graduating class at Bartlett Yancey High School in Caswell County. He came to Raleigh to study engineering at North Carolina State University and, like Officer Lee, enrolled in the North Carolina National Guard. While still at N.C. State, Officer Allen married his high school sweetheart, Jackie, and moved to an apartment near Cameron Village. He joined the Raleigh Police Department on June 20, 1966.
Officer Lee and Officer Allen both graduated from the Basic Officer Training School on November 23, 1966. On December 5, 1968 they partnered-up Car 13. While on routine patrol, Officer Lee and Officer Allen were dispatched to check in with another officer on a call for service. As the officers approached the intersection of Yadkin Drive and Currituck Road, Officer Lee attempted to veer to the right to miss an oncoming vehicle, but the police car was struck and slammed into a telephone pole, taking both officers’ lives.
Delma Devon “Jimmy” Adams -- End of Watch: February 3, 1980
Age: 34 Length of Service: 12 Years Population of Raleigh: 150,265
President of the United States: Jimmy Carter Mayor of Raleigh: Smedes York
Jimmy Adams was the sixth of eight children to enjoy growing up in the Meadow community in Johnston County. In high school Officer Adams met the love of his life, Sandra. Shortly after graduation, on the pretense of going to the State Fair, the young couple barreled down to Dillon, S.C., to tie the knot. The newlyweds then moved to Garner and Officer Adams went to work with the City of Raleigh as a meter reader in the Public Utilities Department.
While working in this capacity, Officer Adams became friends with several Police Officers who encouraged him to join with them as a force for good. Officer Adams took them up on it, taking the oath on September 7, 1967. The young Adams family moved to an apartment on Bloodworth Street where they welcomed two sons – Phillip and Marcus -- into the world.
On February 3, 1980, Officer Adams received a call about a drunk driver in the area of South Wilmington Street and a description of the vehicle. Soon Officer Adams spotted the suspected vehicle and arrested Cassie Scott Johnson for drunk driving. After Officer Adams placed her in the backseat of his patrol car, Ms. Johnson asked for her purse. Ever the gentleman, Officer Adams got out of the patrol car to retrieve the purse and to assist the people who had been her passengers find a ride home. Officer Adams then handed Ms. Johnson her pursue and took his seat at the wheel of his patrol car. Immediately Officer Adams was killed by a single gunshot wound to the back of his head. Ms. Johnson is serving her prison term.
Denise Holden – End of Watch: August 4, 1995
Age: 24 Length of Service: Eight Months Population of Raleigh: 250,186
President of the United States: Bill Clinton Mayor of Raleigh: Tom Fetzer
Born and raised in Dunn, Denise Holden graduated from Cape Fear High School and attended North Greenville College in Tigerville, S.C. Her transfer to Saint Augustine’s University brought the stellar athlete with the winning smile to the Capital City. At St. Aug’s, Officer Holden was named to the women’s All CIAA basketball team her junior and senior years and earned All American honors her senior year. Soon after graduating, Officer Holden brought her degree in criminal justice to the City, taking the oath of office of a Raleigh Police Officer on January 13, 1995.
On August 4, 1995, Officer responded to an urgent request for assistance from another officer who was fighting a suspect. While en route to the scene to lend assistance, Officer Holden’s patrol car slid out of control at the curve of Morgan Street where it intersects Hillsborough Street and struck a utility pole. There, the stellar forward and outstanding officer nicknamed “Sunshine” lost her life.
Paul Andrew Hale – End of Watch: July 11, 1997
Age: 35 Length of Service: Seven Years Population of Raleigh: 266,035
President of the United States: Bill Clinton Mayor of Raleigh: Tom Fetzer
Growing up in Battle Creek, Mich., Paul Andrew Hale enjoyed hearing stories about the work of his grandfather who was an inspector with the Detroit Police Department. So it came as no surprise when, following graduation from Vanderbilt University, Det. Hale and his wife, Connie, moved to Raleigh and he became part of the Raleigh Police Department. When he graduated from the academy in October 1990, the young Hale family celebrated not only Det. Hale’s professional accomplishment but the first birthday of his baby daughter, Stephie. The couple’s first daughter, Jessie, was born in 1987.
Det. Hale had seven years of service with the RPD when he was promoted to Detective on July 7, 1997. Just four days later, On July 11, he was called in to work early to take a murder suspect, Kwame Mays, into custody for questioning. As Det. Hale and other officers approached Mr. Mays, he pulled a gun, fatally wounding Det. Hale. Mr. Mays is serving a life sentence for the murder.
Charles Radford Paul III – End of Watch: September 10, 2002
Age: 30 Length of Service: Six Years Population of Raleigh: 306,252
President of the United States: George W. Bush Mayor of Raleigh: Charles Meeker
Charles Radford Paul III’s passion during his years at East Wake High School was wrestling which led to his being named “Wrestler of the Year.” As a dean’s list student at East Carolina University, Officer Paul’s passion turned to motorcycles. That passion, along with his lifelong role as a fearless protector, made him a natural fit to become a member of the Raleigh Police Department. The extremely polite “guy with two first names” took his oath of office January 5, 1996. Officer Paul was “over the moon” when he was assigned to the Traffic Enforcement Unit on August 2, 2000. He loved riding his Police motorcycle.
On the morning of September 10, Officer Paul was working radar on the inner loop of the Beltline between Rock Quarry Road and Hammond Road. While attempting to catch up to a speeding vehicle, Officer Paul lost control of his motorcycle and struck the median barrier guardrail. He left a wife, Tiffany, and baby girl, Charli, age one.
The Memorial
The Raleigh Police Memorial Foundation was founded in 2009 by a group of active and retired Raleigh police officers who are dedicated to honoring and remembering Raleigh police officers who made the ultimate sacrifice. The foundation has raised funds to support the construction of the police memorial. For more information on the foundation or the memorial, please visit rpdmemorial.wordpress.com
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