One Local Community Remembers Why It’s Important to Remember Those Who Serve!
By Carol A. Gasser Moore
CLINCH COUNTY, Georgia – While a number of dark blues, forest greens and subtle tans were visible in a Homerville crowd recently, gatherers know that the Homerville Police Department is a relatively small police department. The community that the HPD serve is only just over 2,000 citizens. Losing one officer, when a handful of officers keep the community secure, is a big dent in the HPD’s ability to secure a small town’s citizens.
Sergeant Tinnian Register was honored in May as this small Georgia community remembered that he “served this community with the utmost respect and professionalism” making the ultimate sacrifice! The service honored not only Sergeant Register, but current HPD officers Sergeant Camden Pate, Officer Phillip Hay, Officer Darious Williams, Sergeant Lawrence McGee, Officer Joshua Crunkelton, and Officer Tavoris Belcher.
Sixty (60) years ago on June 10, 1964 at approximately 8:20 p.m., Officer Register was on duty when he attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle, whose driver refused to stop. Officer Register pursued the vehicle until it stopped in front of Homerville’s City Hall. The stop was routine and Officer Register gave the driver a copy of the ticket. As he returned to his patrol car, the offender produced a shotgun which he discharged into Officer Register’s head.
It was a heartbreaking incident which left many completely broken. The offender ended the 14 month veteran officer’s ability to serve his community and go home each night to his family.
The event was hard to understand.
This month, the Homerville community came together to recognize Sergeant Register with an honorary promotion to Sergeant and the retiring of Register’s badge number 3200. The ceremony took everyone back to the fact that there are heroes all amongst us every day doing this kind of work.
Listeners were reminded that the officer’s thin blue line is real, and that it is the line between order and chaos. It is the line between good and evil. And every day those who wear the badge step into that breach and step up to that line.
