This week is National Police Week, which honors individuals who have given their lives in service to their communities. North Carolina Wildlife Enforcement Officers dedicate their careers to protecting North Carolina’s wildlife and fish resources, as well as enforcing boating laws. Since 1930, 11 officers have given their lives in service to the agency and to the conservation of North Carolina’s valuable wildlife resources. We pray the list of names below will remain short.

 

JOHN W. HOLLOWELL, Deputy Game Warden

End of Watch: Aug. 30, 1930

Deputy Game Warden John Hollowell died after being assaulted by two cousins, ages 18 and 20, outside the Chowan County Court House in Edenton. Deputy Game Warden Hollowell had just testified against them after charging them with fishing violations. Doctors testified that during the assault Deputy Game Warden Hollowell fell and hit his head on the pavement causing his death. Both suspects were convicted of manslaughter. One was sentenced to 10 to 15 years and the other to 7 to 12 years in prison. Governor Oliver M. Gardner pardoned them both on December 25, 1932. Warden Hollowell had served with the agency for one year. He was survived by his wife. He was 34 years old.

 

JOSEPH D. WHITAKER, Game Warden

Henderson County

End of Watch: Nov. 15, 1936

Game Warden Joseph Whitaker was shot and killed when his automatic pistol accidentally discharged as he got out of his car to investigate a suspicious vehicle on the North Mills River Road in Henderson County. He and his brother had been enforcing hunting and searching for people illegally spotlighting deer. They observed a vehicle drive up and down the road adjacent to the house they were staying in and went to investigate it.  Warden Whitaker was survived by his mother and three brothers. He was 33 years old.

 

W.I. WRIGHT, JR., District Game & Fish Protector

Roseboro, NC

End of Watch: Oct. 31, 1948

Game Protector Wright was fatally wounded by hunters during a license check. No one was ever prosecuted for the crime due to lack of admissible evidence. He was 41 years old.

 

GROVER C. QUINN, JR., Division of Game

Davidson County

End of Watch: March 25, 1949.

Wildlife Agent Grover Quinn was killed in a vehicle crash near Thomasville, Davidson County, at approximately 11:30 am. His department truck collided with another car in a rural area of the county. Wildlife Agent Quinn was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII and had served with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission for two years. He was survived by his wife, infant daughter, sister, and two brothers. He was 24 years old.

 

WILLIAM G. HOLLER, Wildlife Protector

Mecklenburg County

End of Watch: Oct. 19, 1951.

Wildlife Protector Holler was killed in an automobile accident while carrying out his law enforcement duties. He was 25 years old.

 

AMOS M. BORDEAUX, Wildlife Protector I

Sampson County

End of Watch: April 10, 1962.

Game Protector Amos Bordeaux was accidentally shot and killed while he was preparing for target practice along the banks of Six Runs River, in Sampson County. He had left his home to go on patrol at approximately 10:30 am but failed to return home that night. His wife called the county's other game protector to report that he had not returned. At approximately 11:30 am the following day the other game protector and a game protector from Cumberland County located his body next to his vehicle, along with cleaning supplies for his revolver and a tin can. It was determined that he was preparing to clean his gun to conduct target practice when one of the rounds discharged and struck him in the chest.
Game Protector Bordeaux had served with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission for 14 years. He was survived by his wife. He was 48 years old.

 

JOHN O. EDWARDS, Wildlife Officer

End of Watch: Aug. 3, 1963.

Wildlife Officer John Edwards was killed in an automobile accident while conducting an operation against deer poachers. Officer Edwards had served with the N.C.  Wildlife Resources Commission for 10 years. He was survived by his wife and two children. He was 32 years old.

 

DEWEY H. McCALL, Wildlife Refuge Manager II

Burke County

End of Watch: Sept. 5, 1971

Wildlife Officer Dewey McCall was shot and killed in Burke County while issuing a man a citation for keeping two undersized trout. Officer McCall was able to return fire and seriously wounded the subject.
The 60-year-old man was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 18 years in prison on  February 19th, 1972. He was paroled December 12th, 1978.

 

McCall was survived by his wife and three sons. He was 45 at the time of his death.

 

TROY M. SIGMON, Wildlife Enforcement Area Leader

Brunswick County

End of Watch: Sept. 1, 1978.

Area Leader Sigmon suffered fatal injuries when the helicopter in which he was flying crashed while he was looking for baiting violations. He was 48 at the time of his death.

 

LLOYD O. MAYSE, Wildlife Enforcement Officer II

Northampton County

End of Watch: Nov. 27, 1980.

Wildlife Officer Lloyd Mayse was shot and killed by a man while conducting hunting license checks on two brothers in Northampton County at 4 a.m. Unbeknownst to Officer Mayes, one of the brothers was a fugitive from Virginia. A struggle ensued between the three in which Officer Mayse shot and killed one of the men. Officer Mayse was also shot and killed during the struggle.  The brother who survived then hid Officer Mayse's body and fled back to Virginia with his brother's body. He was arrested later that day after crashing his vehicle during a vehicle pursuit on I-264 in Virginia. He was acquitted of murder after accusing his deceased brother of firing the fatal shot. Officer Mayse was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was 34 years old.

 

WILLIAM A. WILLIAMSON, Wildlife Enforcement Officer I.

Jones County

End of Watch: Dec. 4, 1985.

Wildlife Officer Williamson was fatally injured in an auto accident while enroute to assist a fellow officer. He was 32 years old.

 

For more information, visit the Officer Down Memorial Page for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.