Tuscaloosa County Mourns Loss Of Legendary Lawman E. Don Lake

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Retired Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's deputy and Vietnam War veteran Bobby McFerrin keeps a list of the people he served with over his career, taking note of who is still living. He keeps contact with as many as he can, but as time inevitably moves on, the list has steadily become smaller, and done so at an increasing frequency.

Longtime Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office Lt. E. Don Lake, who retired in 2001, is the latest of McFerrin's old friends to go, after the storied public servant, compassionate crime fighter and beloved mentor died Saturday following a battle with cancer. He was 74.

"Don was fair and he treated everybody fair," McFerrin said. "He didn’t put up with no mess, but I enjoyed my years with him, just like all of [the other deputies the two worked with] and a lot of them are gone now. I went through my list yesterday and all the older deputies are all gone."

McFerrin and Lake went to school together at Tuscaloosa County High School in Northport in the mid-1960s, before McFerrin enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Lake would be hired on at the Sheriff's Office in 1968 shortly thereafter by longtime Sheriff Nathan Chism. A few years later, upon his return from Vietnam, McFerrin was one of the many veterans hired by the new sheriff, Beasor Walker.

The two would reconnect and eventually work together as the first investigators in a new multi-agency metro unit dedicated solely to investigating homicides and violent crimes.

"Don was a smart boy and homicide was a challenge, believe me," McFerrin said. "Especially a murder or crime that happened out in the county and you didn’t have witnesses ... it was tough."

As the sheriff's office and county mourn Lake's death, Patch caught up not just with the people who knew him best, but those whose lives he impacted through such a long and devoted career.

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"E. Don Lake was a true law man," Sheriff Ron Abernathy told Patch in a brief statement. "He loved the Sheriff's Office and Tuscaloosa County. He was my friend and he will be greatly missed."

TCSO Chief Deputy Byron Waid also commented on Lake's passion for the sheriff's office, his family and the people he served.

"He was an example of dedication to the men and women of law enforcement," he said. "I am proud to have known him and our thoughts and prayers are with his family."

'A wealth of experience'

Former Sheriff Ted Sexton secured his fifth term in office against Lake in 2006, yet had nothing but high praise for a man who would retire in 2001 as a pillar of respect and trust across numerous agencies and administrations, including Sexton's.

Sexton was an officer with the Tuscaloosa Police Department when he first met Lake, describing him as a legendary figure in his time.

"He was one of the original investigators assigned to the homicide unit [now the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit] that started in the late 60s, early 70s," he told Patch. "Don was one of the original members and had a wealth of experience conducting investigations, techniques, gathering evidence, and was extremely good at courtroom testimony."

TCSO Chief of Administration Loyd Baker would become a standout in the next generation of homicide investigators coming up behind Lake and McFerrin, eventually going on to command the unit for more than decade.

"[Lake] was attached to the homicide unit in the beginning and they laid the foundation for us to be successful later as an investigative unit," Baker told Patch. "They set the bar high and we continued that tradition."

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Part of this approach that rubbed off on other deputies was Lake's ability to connect and build relationships, especially in the northern, rural end of the county. McFerrin then said this was a valuable asset in those early days.

"He would go look people up who might've heard something or know something, and without those friends and people you know out in the county, you’d be lost," he said. "That’s how you solve a lot of crimes."

Lake eventually departed from homicide, though, for a job that would leave a lasting impact on countless deputies coming behind him when he was appointed commander of the Patrol Division. Following the news of his death, it's the innumerable connections he forged with deputies and in the community, and not just the cases he solved, that stands out as his legacy.

"He was a mentor and there for you when you messed up," Baker said. "He was just the kind of guy you wanted to work with. He was a good cop. He was one of those guys that if he was going to a call and you were going to back him up, it would probably be handled before you got there. He wasn’t afraid of anything and he was good with people."

A lesson in leadership

During his time in law enforcement and as sheriff, Sexton said Lake not only had a knack for dealing with the public, but also won the adoration of those serving under and around him.

"The guys who worked for him really loved working for him," he said. "He watched out for his men and was one who would take care of them on and off duty. Don was just involved in so many things. He was well-respected by virtually all of the department and was also considered a professional by all the other law enforcement agencies, so you always felt good knowing he was representing your department."

Jeff Queen, now retired, was one of the many deputies who credited Lake with being a guiding force throughout his law enforcement career. Queen started at the sheriff's office in 1993, with Lake serving as his only patrol commander until he left to become a K9 specialist in 2000.

"Lt. Lake was the kind of supervisor everyone dreams of having," Queen recalled. "He was tough but fair, and he always seemed completely at ease and in control in every situation. He made you believe everything was going to be ok, even in the worst situations. When he delegated authority, he never micromanaged anyone. If he gave you a task, it was because he had complete confidence in your ability to get the job done, even if you didn’t have that confidence in yourself."

Queen then remembered an instance where he once asked Lake why he always came to him with a difficult assignment or an overtime detail. Lake responded by telling him once he gave Queen the details, he never had to wonder if the work would get done.

"It was a great lesson in leadership for me when I got promoted," he said. "Letting people know you believe in them is critical to people learning to believe in themselves, but especially in law enforcement, where the worst moment of your life, and the lives of others, might be waiting around the next dark corner."

Deputy Martha Hocutt, like Lake, became deeply engrained in the fabric of the community in northern Tuscaloosa County and attributed to Lake so much of what she continues to apply every day on the job.

"I learned how to be successful and effective in this by learning how to be fair, respectful and think about what I am doing, from him," she told Patch. "He cared about each and every one of us 'kids' and tried to put and keep us on the right path."

Apart from the tough lessons that come with a career in keeping the peace, Hocutt said her friendship with Lake is what she will cherish above all else.

"He was one of the best friends I could have ever had, always there for me no matter what or when," she said, before remarking with a laugh that Lake could drive as good as any Indy Car driver. "There was only one of him. They broke the mold when they made him. He always treated people the way he would want to be treated and we all should have learned that from him! Don was more like family to me. I was blessed to be a small part of his life and have him be such a big part of my life and career."

Reflecting back on the myriad stories from his time with Lake, Queen brought up a memory that provides an appropriate anecdote to remember his longtime supervisor's life and career, along with the place he occupied in the community during the decades he served.

Queen remembered being on patrol and going to the Fayette County line on Highway 171 to serve an arrest warrant, before Lake called him and asked if he was going alone. The more experienced deputy, who knew the suspect involved, informed Queen he may have to wait for Lake to arrive, else he could be in for a fight.

Knowing it would be a while before any backup could arrive, he went on inside and was able to locate the suspect on a bed in a back bedroom. Queen then knocked on the door frame to get the man's attention and name-dropped Lake.

"I said, 'Lt. Lake said I was going to have trouble with you and to go ahead and shoot you if you resist,'" Queen said. "He then said 'I don’t mess with Lt. Lake!' ... He got up, pulled his pants on, I cuffed him and we walked out through the middle of all his buddies. Even the criminals knew Lt. Lake would treat them fairly if they played the game the right way."

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