Whitley Sheriff creates tribute to county’s fallen officers

Whitley Sheriff Colan Harrell holds a plaque that will displayed in his office containing the names of eight county deputies who have died over the years in the line of duty.

In the near future, when local residents enter the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, they will be able to see a tribute to eight county law enforcement officers, who died in the line of duty.

Sheriff Colan Harrell has assembled the names of the officers and placed them on a plaque that will be hung in his front office as a memorial to the slain officers.

"I was initially going to place it in the conference room, but I think more people would see it in the front office, and it should be displayed there," Harrell said. "These individuals need recognition for the price that they paid."

The plaque has a total of eight names, including six Whitley County Sheriff’s deputies, one sheriff and one Jellico, Kentucky police chief.

"Of course Jellico, Kentucky doesn’t exist any more. His name was George Smiddy. He was shot to death in 1926. As a matter of courtesy, I felt like he should be on there," Harrell said.

"They all have a history. Anybody, who wants to come by here and look at the plaque, they are welcome to do it."

Harrell said that he would also be happy to show people the documentation he has gathered detailing how each officer was killed in the line of duty.

The eight Whitley County officers killed in the line of duty since Whitley County was founded in 1818, include:

• Deputy Sheriff William Sadler was killed on Feb. 29, 1892 while attempting to arrest a drunk in Corbin.

• Deputy David Branham was shot in 1901.

• Deputy Sheriff Zeb Ward was killed on May 9, 1907 when Henry Trammell shot him.

• Deputy Sheriff Carlos Jones was killed on Sept. 24, 1909 when he was shot with a pistol in Bell County on a train while attempting to break up a domestic dispute.

• Deputy Sheriff John Mays was killed in 1923. Four people were charged, Joe Pearl Fuson, Walter Fuson, Marna Fuson and Tom Fuson.

• Deputy Sheriff William Monhollen was killed in 1922 with a shotgun and an ax while collecting taxes.

• Jellico Kentucky Police Chief George S. Smiddy was killed on May 12, 1926 with a pistol while answering a domestic call.

• Whitley County Sheriff Elvin Patrick was killed in 1959 while making an arrest.

Other office additions

Another addition that will be going up in Harrell’s front office is a framed display case featuring patches from the 25 professional law enforcement agencies, which operate in Whitley County.

About 90 percent of the patches, Harrell collected hand to hand from officers serving with the various agencies.

"It is part of my collection. It took a few years to accumulate," Harrell said. "Most people don’t even know these patches exist, such as the secret service. Who would think about them having a patch or the FBI having a patch, but they do. I hope people come by and enjoy them. Police officers I know will enjoy them."

Harrell has a third display that he also plans to put up in the front office at a later time. It includes 51 patches representing the state police agencies in 49 states, plus the Washington, D.C. police department.

Hawaii doesn’t have a state police agency, it is represented in the display by a patch from the county of Honolulu.

"Hawaii 5-0 doesn’t exist," Harrell noted.