Glynn County Police Department 157 Public Safety Boulevard Dispatch (912) 554-3645 Brunswick, Georgia 31525 Administration (912) 554-7800 www.police.glynncounty-ga.org Fax (912) 554-7885

Matthew J. Doering Scott A. Trautz Chief of Police Assistant Chief

TO: GLYNN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FROM: MATTHEW J. DOERING DATE: 26 April 2011

REF: PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MAY 15, 2011 AS POLICE OFFICER MEMORIAL DAY

BACKGROUND: In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as "Police Week". Every year since, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world converge on Washington, DC to participate in a number of planned events which honor those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice. The Glynn County Police Department had four officers that were killed in the line of duty since its formation in 1919. Those officers are honored in our police memorial section in the Police Department’s lobby.

1. Chief Robert Lee Freeman, End of Watch: September 8, 1930 2. Assistant Chief George Anton Krauss, End of Watch: December 17, 1941 3. Officer James Corbett Coleman, End of Watch: December 17, 1941 4. Officer William Marion Lee, End of Watch: July 27, 1943

The first official memorial service took place on May 15, 1982. On that date, approximately 125 people gathered in Senate Park to honor 91 law enforcement officers. Over the past 28 years we have honored over 3,000 law enforcement officers from around our nation. Today, the National Peace Officers' Memorial Service has become one in a series of events which includes the Candlelight Vigil, which is sponsored by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) and seminars sponsored by Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS).

GLYNN COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT’S FALLEN HEROS HISTORY

In memory of our fallen heroes, who were killed in the line of duty while providing law enforcement and protection to the citizens of Glynn County, Georgia. They proudly served the citizens of our community and our country. Their hard work and dedication with the Glynn County Police Department will never be forgotten. Thank you for your selfless service and sacrifice. We now know the true meaning of honor, courage and integrity. “Greater love hath no man than this, than a man lay down his life for his friends.”

1. Robert Lee Freeman Sr., Chief of Police

End of Watch: Monday, September 8, 1930 - Shot attempting to arrest two suspects.

Chief Freeman was 34 years of age at the time of his death, and had been a member of the police department for nine years. Reports state that he had made a fine record. He practically served all his time as the Assistant Chief, and when Chief W.H. Norris resigned several months before this incident, he was placed in charge of the police department. He was also an active member of the Masons. He was known for his active and strict efforts to enforce the prohibition law in Glynn County and led the force in a number of raids. He was very popular among his officers and people of the city. His death caused great sorrow in the community among his friends, many of whom went to Darien to join in the search for his killers.

Chief Robert L. Freeman, acting Chief of Glynn County Police was shot and fatally wounded by bank robbers in Darien about 2:00 o’clock in the morning on September 8, 1930. Three other men were also shot; Deputy Sheriff J.H. Collins, Officer Anderson, and Johnnie Fisher. Two men who attempted to rob the Darien bank are said to have done the shooting. According to the story of the tragedy, Officer Anderson had been on special duty as a watchman, since an attempt was made to rob the Darien bank two weeks earlier. About midnight he saw a man near the bank and walked up to see who it was. He was shot as he approached. Fisher, a civilian, heard the shooting, being nearby, and rushed toward the bank, when two men made a break, shooting him as they headed toward the marsh directly in the rear of the bank. Collins a deputy sheriff then arrived and he was likewise shot. Both suspects were reported seen darting in to the marsh of the Altamaha River almost 100 yards west of the bridge.

Sheriff A. Poppell was notified and he at once called for aid from Brunswick. Chief Robert L. Freeman was reached and he and Officer L.O. Godwin responded to assist. Upon arriving, the local officers were informed that the two men were hiding in the marsh and were partly surrounded by several officers and civilians. Chief Freeman started into the marsh and had walked some little distance when there were two shots in rapid succession. He fell in the edge of the marsh. Persons rushed to him and he was placed in an automobile to be taken to Brunswick, but he died within a few minutes. One bullet entered his body, while the other shot struck him in the eye. A “general alarm” was sent out and several Brunswick officers, city and county, responded. Chatham County officials also responded and it was reported that they carried dogs to Darien and a “man search” was immediately started. Feeling was running high in Darien and it was generally predicted that if the two men were discovered in the marsh no chances would be taken. Officers with sawed off shotguns were ready for an emergency and further trouble was anticipated. It was thought that the two men would be captured soon after daylight, and a large force was engaged in the hunt, but as day broke and the search continued the men had disappeared and probably had made their way to a hiding place. Efforts were made to secure an airplane from Jacksonville, Florida, to make a search from the air.

Shortly after 9:00 o’clock in the morning one of the suspects was captured and brought to the McIntosh County Jail in Darien, Georgia. A few minutes after he had been placed in the cell, an erroneous report was received from the hospital that Dep. Sheriff Collins had died of his wounds. The angered crowd, brandishing shotguns, began an immediate march toward the jail, crashed into the structure and shot the suspect to death. The body was taken from the jail and carried on a canvas cloth to the shade of a large oak in front of the Sheriff’s home where it was displayed and an inquest was conducted by the coroner.

The second suspect was later found near the swamp hiding in a farmhouse. It was reported as three deputies approached the house; he attempted to flee on foot and fired two pistol shots at the officers. One deputy returned fire with a shotgun and wounded him. Near his side, they found a pistol said to have been taken from the Darien bank a few weeks earlier after the robbery was committed. He was returned to Darien where he was questioned and received medical attention, but later died of his wounds. Chief Robert Lee Freeman was survived by his wife and two young children at the time.

2. George Anton Krauss, Assistant Chief of Police

End of Watch: Wednesday, December 17th, 1941

3. James Corbett Coleman, Police Officer

End of Watch: December 22nd, 1941

One of the greatest tragedies the police department ever faced came in December of 1941, when two of its officers were shot in the line of duty and later succumbed to their injuries.

The first officer, James C. Coleman is remembered as one of Glynn County’s finest police officers in the department during the time this incident took place. He was described as an experienced lawman who had worked for the railroad police in the 1930’s before coming on the county police force. He had a good reputation not only in Glynn County, but Wayne County as well, for enforcing the law and carrying it out evenly.

The second officer, George Anton Krauss, had been with the department a number of years and worked his way up through the ranks to serve as the Assistant Chief of Police. Both officers were at police headquarters when the call came in.

They were to meet at the Dixie Garage with two Florida truck drivers about a problem at a bar called “Nub’s Place”, a local tavern in Turner’s Tourist Court about seven miles south of Brunswick. That Wednesday afternoon, December 17th, 1941, Officer Coleman was given the call, and Assistant Chief Krauss being at headquarters went along as a back-up officer.

The two officers arrived at the Dixie Garage and met with two Florida vegetable truck drivers a short distance from the bar. They were told by two drivers of the vegetable trucks that another truck in their same fleet had stopped at “Nub Turner’s Place” and that the driver and his assistant were drunk and would not leave. They requested the officers to go there with them, as they desired to secure the truck, and continue to their destination with their load.

During the investigation of the complaint, officers Coleman and Krauss arrested the two truck drivers at the bar, and started for their vehicles. Witness reports said, the owner of the establishment, “Nub Turner” allegedly came out and began to argue with the officers, primarily with Assistant Chief Krauss. Assistant Chief Krauss broke off the argument and started walking towards the car with Officer Coleman. As he did, the quiet afternoon was interrupted by a blazing gun fight.

The bar owner opened fire on Assistant Chief Krauss. The round went through him, killing him instantly, and then struck Officer Coleman in the stomach. Though severely wounded, Officer Coleman was able to draw his revolver and return fire, fatally wounding Turner. During the ensuing gun battle, Officer Coleman was struck two more times, once in the hand and another in the shoulder. He was taken to the local hospital where they tried desperately to save his life. Five days later, on December 22, 1941, he succumbed to his wounds. This was a loss the department will never forget. Considering the fatal wounds he received and the terrible agony he endured in the gun battle, his action after being shot leaves no doubt, he was one of the bravest policemen to wear the Glynn County Police uniform.

Both officers, George Anton Krauss and James Corbett Coleman Sr., are remembered for their courage and bravery. Their service to Glynn County and its citizens will always be remembered. It’s not how these men died that made them heroes, it’s how they lived.

Officer Coleman was survived by his wife, three sons, and daughter. He was buried in Palmetto Cemetery. Engraved on his tombstone is the phrase, “DUTY, HONOR, ABOVE ALL.

Assistant Chief Krauss was survived by his wife, a son and daughter.

4. William Marion Lee, Police Officer

End of Watch: Tuesday, July 27, 1943, shot while transporting a prisoner

Officer William Marion Lee, although young at age 27, was one of the more experienced officers that Glynn County had on the force for that time period. He is remembered as a “Fearless and Efficient Officer”. Before coming to the County police, he had worked for the Brunswick Police Department, and had also served as a shipyard officer for some time. On July 27, 1943, Officer Lee was assigned the night watch as the “Special County Officer for St. Simons Island”.

Early that morning around 1:00 a.m., the County Police Chief, Waldo Haley, stopped a car driven by a man named Sam Maxwell and three other people on the St. Simons Highway. He observed the car weaving on the highway and suspected the driver to be intoxicated. Chief Haley pulled up beside the vehicle and told him to stop. After a closer look, the driver appeared to be “under the influence of whiskey” and Chief Waldo arrested him.

Officer Lee arrived a few minutes later enroute to the city from the island. The Chief searched Maxwell before Officer Lee arrived, and the prisoner was turned over to him, and then started to the city with him in the car. Another county officer, C.D. Ammons, driving directly behind Lee’s car, said when the car was a short distance from the intersection with U.S. 17, he saw Officer Lee fall from the car.

As he rushed up, he saw that Officer Lee was wounded, but was able to draw his revolver in a kneeling position and fire three times at Maxwell as he fled on foot from the vehicle. Even though Chief Waldo and Officer Lee searched Maxwell, it is believed that he had a revolver hidden and strapped to his leg below his waste. While enroute to the city at approximately 1:30 a.m., and when Maxwell had an opportunity, he opened fire on Officer Lee.

Reports showed that Officer Ammons picked up his fellow officer and started for the hospital, but he died on the way. It was disclosed that Officer Lee was shot three times, twice in the side, and once under the armpit.

Chief Waldo, along with County Officers Henderson and Branch immediately began the search with Brunswick Police officers for the suspect. They tracked him to a high fence that surrounded a portion of the Hercules Powder Company but lost his trail. Bloodhounds were called in from the Reidsville State prison and joined in the search, but were unable to pick up his tracks. Reports show he was captured a few days later and immediately brought to the state prison in Reidsville for safe-keeping. Maxwell contended that he did not have a gun and did not shoot Officer Lee, but tussled with Lee over his gun and it went off.

The Honorable Glenn Thomas was in his first term as Solicitor General for the Brunswick Judicial Circuit. He brought Maxwell to trial two months later and sought the death penalty for which he would have faced the electric chair. The trial began on September 20th and concluded on the 22nd with a mistrial. The defense argued that there was no proof that supported the prosecution’s theory, and no gun or bullets were tendered into evidence to prove otherwise. Some jurors wanted to convict on murder, and others on the charge of manslaughter. None wanted to acquit. Glenn Thomas vowed to bring him to trial again for this heinous crime. On February 19th, 1944, Glynn County got that chance. And at this trial, the bullets which killed Officer Lee were tendered into evidence, as well as Officer Lee’s service revolver. They had been examined by an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and he testified at trial that the bullets which killed the officer could not have come from Officer Lee’s service revolver. This new evidence of “Firearms Ballistic Examination”, along with other eyewitness testimony made the difference in the second trial, and Maxwell was convicted and received a life sentence.

Officer William Marion Lee was survived by a wife and three little girls, (ages 1, 2, and 3). He was well liked and thought highly of by all his friends and fellow officers. He was quite popular in Wayne County, and had resided for several years in the Mt. Pleasant Community.