Memorial for fallen officers breaks ground
By BENJAMIN C. SHARP bensharp@journal-spectator.com

Representatives from the county's five law enforcement agencies will gather on the lawn of the Wharton County Sheriff's Department Monday for the groundbreaking of a law enforcement memorial.

The Wharton County Peace Officers Memorial will recognize the five peace officers killed in the county's history. The most recent was Game Warden Justin Hurst, who was fatally shot near Lissie on March 17.

The others are Sheriff Hamilton Dickson, killed on Feb. 7, 1894; Deputy and jailer Henry McCain, killed on July 19, 1908; El Campo City Marshal James Lee, killed on August 11, 1914; and Deputy Harry McCormick, killed on June 26, 1920.

Their names, along with a brief biography, will be etched on cast aluminum plaques that will be permanently affixed to a 20 foot long, seven foot high cut stone wall. The monument will also include three columns, a "flagstone" sidewalk and a 20 foot by 24 foot stone viewing patio, said Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission Agent Darryl Darnell, who instigated local efforts to build the memorial.

"It will be the biggest police memorial in Southeast Texas except for Houston Police Department and Harris County," Darnell said.

Darnell and other members of the memorial committee will be present for Monday's groundbreaking, which will occur at 11:30 a.m. in front of the Wharton County Jail on Elm Street.

Other committee members include DPS Sgt. Danny Terronez, TPWD Capt. Rex Mayes, Sheriff Jess Howell, Wharton Police Chief Tim Guin, El Campo Police Chief Jim Elliott and Constable Shawn Ferguson.

The point of the memorial is to honor those who have paid the ultimate price in order to protect the lives and property of county residents, Darnell said.

The need for such a monument became strikingly clear following the death of Game Warden Hurst. Darnell said there were few - even in the law enforcement community - who could recall the names of the other officers who had been killed in the line of duty over the years.

"That brought to our attention that we needed to have a memorial where people could come and remember," he said.

Plans are to have the monument finished by May of 2008 - just in time for National Police Week.

But it will take additional funding to do that.

The committee has so far raised $2,200.

Estimated cost of the memorial is between $10,000 and $15,000.

"We still need donations," Darnell said.

Anyone interested in giving can make a tax deductible donation through the Wharton County 100 Club.

Donations to the Wharton County Peace Officers Memorial may be mailed to: P.O. Box 46, El Campo 77437, or dropped off at the Sheriff's Department.