Peace Officers Memorial Day Ceremony
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The annual Peace Officers Memorial Day Ceremony was held on Thursday, May 15 at the Appling County Sheriff’s Office and the Baxley Police Department. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed the proclamation for the day to fall during National Police Week.
In 2025, six officers and one K-9 from the state of Georgia were killed in the line of duty. There were 165 total fallen officers in the United States this year.
The ceremony was opened by Mayor Tim Varnadore on behalf of the City of Baxley, pledging to continue to work hand-in-hand with the law enforcement community to build a city of peace, safety, and justice. “Their commitment to justice, to bravery, to the face of danger, to daily acts of service has not gone unnoticed by anyone. We owe to them and their families a great debt of gratitude that we will never truly repay,” said Mayor Varnadore.
Sheriff Mark Melton spoke, saying that his goal every day at the Appling County Sheriff’s Office is to make sure that the only fallen hero, Woodrow Simmons, is left in his place of honor by himself. “Even though nobody might remember the good decisions, they will most definitely remember every bad decision that you made. But more than what others think, bad decisions are a burden to the person making such choices. There are consequences for every decision, good and bad,” said Sheriff Melton. “If those who caused these tragedies had only made better choices, we wouldn’t be here today.”
Investigator Taylor Jaimeson Bristow of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office died of a gunshot wound on August 23 while serving a warrant related to a child sexual exploitation investigation.
Deputy Sheriff Brandon Tyler Cunningham of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office died from gunshot wounds after responding to a domestic call in Hiram on August 23, 2024.
Georgia State Patrol Trooper Jimmy Cenescar was killed in a single-vehicle crash on January 28, 2024, while attempting to stop a fleeing motorcycle on Interstate 85 North.
Trooper First Class Chase Winston Redner of the Georgia State Patrol was struck and killed on February 20, 2024, while investigating a fatal pedestrian crash scene at Interstate 75 North in Morrow.
Deputy Sheriff Timothy Tavarus Rivers of the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office was killed after a vehicle collision in Lizella on February 6, 2024.
Deputy Sheriff Eric Anthony Minix of the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office was struck by a police car on February 4, 2024, in a vehicle pursuit following I-85 into Chambers County, Alabama.
K-9 Titan of the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office was shot and killed by an AK-47 rifle on November 13, 2024 while officers attempted to apprehend a driver who did not pull over for a traffic stop on Roosevelt Highway in Fairburn.
The Jesup Police Department Honor Guard followed by laying the ceremonial wreath.
The guest speaker for the event was Sgt. Garrett Wright of the Glynn County Police Department.
Following the benediction, the crowd was released for a meal in the sally port.
