Fallen Georgia Officers Honored During National Police Week

WASHINGTON, DC — The names of nearly 200 local, state and federal police officers and agents who died in the line of duty in 2017 will be read Tuesday in the 37th Annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service. They include seven officers from Georgia, two of whom were Department of Corrections officers killed by escaping inmates on a prison transport bus last summer.

The national ceremony in Washington, D.C., is part of a week full of activities for National Police Week, which began Sunday and continues through Saturday, May 19. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week.

Tuesday's two-hour commemoration began at 11 a.m. near the west front of the U.S. Capitol. It includes both a wreath-laying ceremony and a memorial service.

These seven officers from Georgia will be honored:

Sergeant Curtis Bernard Billue, 58, died June 13, 2017: Sergeant Curtis Billue and Sergeant Christopher Monica were shot and killed after being attacked by two inmates in Putnam County, Georgia. The officers were transporting 33 prisoners between Hancock State Prison and Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison. Two of the inmates attacked the officers as the transport bus drove along Route 16, between Eatonton and Sparta. One of the inmates was able to disarm one of the officers and then shot them both. The prisoners stole both officers' service weapons and carjacked a passing car before fleeing. Both subjects fled the scene and remained at large for several days. On June 15th, 2017, they were captured in Rutherford County, Tennessee, following a vehicle pursuit in which they fired at two deputies. The men fled to a nearby home in an attempt to steal another vehicle but were captured by the homeowner and a neighbor who held them at gunpoint until responding officers took them into custody. Sergeant Billue had served with the Georgia Department of Corrections for 10 years. He is survived by his two sons, parents, and eight siblings.

Sergeant Christopher James Monica, 42, died June 13, 2017: He was shot and killed after being attacked by two inmates in Putnam County, Georgia. The officers were transporting 33 prisoners between Hancock State Prison and Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison. Two of the inmates attacked the officers as the transport bus drove along Route 16, between Eatonton and Sparta. One of the inmates was able to disarm one of the officers and then shot them both. Sergeant Monica had served with the Georgia Department of Corrections for eight years. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, two grandchildren, and sister.

Deputy Sheriff Michael Christopher Butler, 39, died February 25, 2017: Deputy Sheriff Michael Butler was killed in a vehicle crash while responding to a domestic violence call. He was responding to the call with his emergency equipment activated when a tractor trailer crossed the center line as it attempted to turn right onto Cat Creek Road from Norman Hall Road. Deputy Butler was unable to avoid a collision and struck the trailer portion of the truck. The driver of the tractor trailer pulled Deputy Butler from the burning patrol car. He was taken to South Georgia Medical Center, where he died from his injuries.He is survived by his wife, twin daughters, mother and sister.

Detective Kristen Nicole Hearne, 29, died September 29, 2017: Detective Kristen Hearne was shot and killed as she and another officer responded to reports of a stolen vehicle at the intersection of Highway 100 and Santa Claus Road. As the officers arrived at the location they were ambushed by a man. Detective Hearne, who was not wearing a vest, was fatally wounded. The second officer was struck in the vest and was wounded. A woman was taken into custody at the scene. The male subject fled the scene but was arrested a short time later after a massive manhunt and charged with murder. Detective Hearne served in law enforcement for 10 years. Her tenure included the Floyd County Sheriff's Department and later the Polk County Police Department for five years. She is survived by her husband and 3-year-old son, her parents, brothers, stepmother, and grandparents.

Detective Touré Nkrumah Heywood, 41, died May 28, 2015: Detective Touré Heywood died from injuries sustained 12 years earlier when he was struck by a vehicle while conducting a traffic stop. He had stepped in front of the vehicle to instruct the driver to backup off of a crosswalk. The driver instead put the vehicle into drive and intentionally struck Detective Heywood before fleeing. The driver fled the scene but was apprehended later in the day. Detective Heywood's health continued to deteriorate as a result of the incident. On May 28th, 2015, he died while undergoing organ transplant surgery to replace his stomach, liver, pancreas, upper bowel and lower bowel. Detective Heywood was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He had previously served as a corrections officer before joining the Georgia State University Police Department. Following the crash he became a member of the East Point Police Department, where he served as a detective at the time of his passing.

Sergeant Gregory Michael Meagher, 57, died February 5, 2017: Sergeant Greg Meagher died after being exposed to liquid nitrogen while attempting to rescue a woman at a medical facility at 1100 Emmett Street in Augusta. He and several other deputies had responded to the facility and were told that a woman was unconscious inside. The deputies entered the facility to rescue the woman and were overcome by the fumes. Fire department personnel arrived on the scene and were able to remove Sergeant Meagher and the employee. They were both taken to Augusta University Hospital where Sergeant Meagher died. The other three deputies were treated for their exposure to the toxins. Sergeant Meagher had served with the Richmond County Sheriff's Office for 33 years. In 2004 he was shot in the face while assigned to a federal narcotics task force.

Deputy Jailer James Martin Wallace, 61, died November 2, 2017: Deputy Jailer James Wallace suffered a fatal heart attack while participating in the department's annual physical fitness assessment at the Wilson Family YMCA on Wheeler Road. Other deputies on scene immediately started CPR. He was taken to Doctor's Hospital where he died a short time later. Deputy Jailer Wallace had served with the Richmond County Sheriff's Office for seven years.

FILE PHOTO: A member of a police officer honor guard team salutes during the playing of the national anthem at the 36th annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service at the U.S. Capitol on May 15, 2017 in Washington, DC. The service is part of National Police Week and honors police officers across the country, and the families of those who died in the line of duty. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)