"HE FELL AT HIS POST OF DUTY"

This memorial marker was erected outside the Macomb Police Department by the Macomb Police Fraternal Order of Police (F.O.P.)  Lodge #189. It is dedicated to our fallen colleagues:

·       J. Edward "Opie" Whittlesey

        injured: Nov. 29, 1930    died: Nov. 29, 1930

·       Ernest E. "Cotton" Bowman  

        injured: Nov. 29, 1930    died: Nov. 30, 1930

·       Albert "Al" Links

        injured: Nov. 29, 1930    died: Dec. 1, 1930

·       Lt. Elwyn "Mac" McFadden

        injured: Mar. 25, 1989    died: Jan. 2, 1994

Learn about Officer Bowman's Line of Duty Death

Learn about Officer Links' Line of Duty Death

Learn about Officer Whittlesey's Line of Duty Death

History of the Macomb Police Department Memorial

The memorial, which stands at the southeast corner of the Macomb Police Department building, is the end result of an idea by Macomb Police Captain Roger Oliver (retired). In 1997, then Sgt. Oliver, had the idea to build a permanent memorial for the fallen officers of the Macomb Police Department. Three officers (Whittlesey, Bowman, and Links) died in 1930 as a result of a violent shoot out with a suspect in custody. In 1989 Lt. McFadden was directing traffic when he was run over by an anhydrous ammonia tank being towed by a pick up truck. Lt. McFadden fought to recover from his injuries and was considering coming back to work when he was diagnosed with leukemia. The officers of the Macomb Police Department felt that the leukemia was the direct effect of the medication Lt. McFadden was taking for his injuries, and therefore, it was decided that McFadden's name would be placed on the memorial upon its completion.

In 1997 Sgt. Oliver researched information on memorials and eventually saw a monument in front of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity house on N. Lafayette St. that looked like what would be appropriate for the Macomb Police Department grounds. Sgt. Oliver made contact with then City Administrator Bob Morris and then City of Macomb Mayor Tom Carper in early 1997 (shortly after the new Macomb Police Department building was dedicated). Carper and Morris each gave Sgt. Oliver permission to place the memorial at its current location, and it was agreed that the Macomb Police Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #189 would finance the project. The cost of the structure in front of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity house was built by Young Masonry at the cost of $6600. Sgt. Oliver made contact with the fraternity house and was able to obtain the blueprints of the structure. Sgt. Oliver had some construction experience and many contacts in the community.

Sgt. Oliver was able to utilize the Cemetery Department employees to dig the hole for the memorial. Jack Hall was the supervisor and Vince Millicent was the operator. Champ Wayland of Wayland Ready Mix donated the concrete for the footing. Joe and Joyce Wilson of Macomb Concrete Products donated the left over bricks used in the constructions of the Macomb Police Department building, as well as sand and mortar mix for laying the bricks. Lackey Monuments sold the department the sand stone monument at cost under the direction of Darrin Olin. It was decided to place the names of the fallen McDonough County Sheriff's Deputies on the opposite side of the monument since the McDonough County Sheriff's Office and the Macomb Police Department are in adjoining buildings. The McDonough County Sheriff's Office funded the lettering for their side of the monument.

McDonough County Sheriff's Office Deputy Sheriff Jerry Vawter (now retired Deputy) was also a brick mason and agreed to assist Sgt. Oliver in building the memorial. Vawter and Oliver built the memorial on their own time off and finished the project with the moral support of Brownie Myers, a local barber whose business is across the street from the police station (Myers would help in-between haircuts). Lackey Monuments set the pre-inscribed head stone and the project was completed for an approximate cost of $1200.

A dedication and memorial service was conducted on June 28, 1997. During the dedication, family members of the fallen officers donated money to the F.O.P. Lodge equal to the construction cost of the monument.

Sgt. Oliver talked again with the city officials and it was agreed that the City of Macomb and the F.O.P. Lodge would combine funds for planting shrubs and flowering plants within the memorial grounds. This was completed in September 1997 with a cost of $2500. Lighting was installed by Macomb Fire Department firefighter and electrician Greg Mason donating the labor.

Every Law Enforcement Memorial Week, the flag pole outside the police station is adorned with the Law Enforcement Bereavement Flag and wreaths are placed at the memorial to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

(Information compiled by retired Captain Roger Oliver)

For more information about fallen officers visit

the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial web page.

Also visit the Officer Down Memorial Page to learn about other fallen officers.

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Last modified: 04/10/08 12:16:16

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