A ceremony was held in front of the courthouse May 12 as part of National Police Week.

The ceremony commemorated fallen officers everywhere. About 50 people, most of them police officers or county employees, were in attendance.

"Policemen work around the clock, split shifts, Sundays and holidays, and it always kills him when they have to pass up time with their family to work a shift or help cover an extra shift because their police family needs them too," Wadesboro Police Chief Janie Schutz said.

Eight officers have died while on duty in the last 100 years in Anson, according to Sheriff Tommy Allen.

One of those was the first state trooper in North Carolina to die on duty. George Ira Thompson was struck and killed on his motorcycle July 2, 1929 by a 14-year-old boy driving a truck at the intersection of Greene and Caswell streets.

The wreck occurred at the intersection when the boy, who was traveling on Greene Street, hit the motorcycle traveling on Caswell Street, according to the July 4 edition of The Messenger and Intelligencer.

Thompson was a member of the first graduating class of troopers, on his way to the first day of work. The class' graduating ceremony had been held the day before.

"May their deaths not have been in vain and may their memories live on in our hearts and soul," Allen said.

A flag was presented to display in the Sheriff's Office as part of its fallen officers memorial. Flags were flown at half-mast.

The Anson County Commission passed a resolution at its meeting May 11 stating in part "it is important that all citizens know and understand the duties, responsibilities, hazards, and sacrifices made by their law enforcement agency."

National Police Week was designated by Congress and the President as the week of May 15.