Raleigh police officer Charles R. Paul died in the line of duty in 2002. He was on I-440, on a motorcycle, and he was chasing a speeding vehicle. He between Rock Quarry and Hammond Roads, when the accident occurred. His motorcycle struck the center median guard rail.
At the time, Officer Paul had served for seven years. He was married and had a one-year-old daughter.
Officer Denise Holden was a rookie on the Raleigh police force in 1995 when she sped off in the early morning hours to respond to an 'officer needs assistance' call.
Officer Holden's vehicle veered off the road at the intersection of Hillsborough Street and Morgan Street. It hit a telephone pole. Rescue crews attempted to extricate her, but she died at the scene. She was survived by two sisters and her parents.
Raleigh Police, city officials and residents will gather tonight to remember officers Paul, Holden and six others who died protecting the city.
The Raleigh Police Memorial Foundation has spent the last five years designing the fallen officers' monument that people will pass as they enter the city's government complex.
Dennis Lane is president of the memorial foundation. He is also a retired Raleigh officer. He said the monument incorporates stone columns and circular markings that symbolize the officers' dedication to serving the public.
"Coming out of those columns and those circles is a 64-foot water table which represents the flow of life," Lane said. "It also reflects the sky. And in that water table there are eight voids representing the eight fallen officers.... And each one of those voids has a light in it that shines into the sky at night."
The memorial's unveiling will come just hours after the annual Wake County Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony at the Duke Energy Performing Arts Center.
Lane said those who sacrificed so much serving and protecting should be remembered.
"It's the nature of what we do," he said. "When people are running away from danger, police officers are rushing into danger to protect our citizens. It's just part of what happens. Anytime you lose one it's a tragedy. Even though we have lost eight officers, we're probably blessed in the city of Raleigh that it is only eight."
The first officer killed on duty in Raleigh was in 1922. You can find out more about all of the officers killed in the line of duty here. Below are the eight men and women in the past 92 years who have lost their lives wearing the Raleigh Police uniform:
Officer Tom G. Crabtree
End of Watch, September 1, 1922
Officer Robert E. Sparks
End of Watch, March 8, 1968
Officer James W. Allen
End of Watch, December 5, 1968
Officer James G. Lee
End of Watch, December 5, 1968
Officer Delma D. Adams
End of Watch, February 3, 1980
Officer Denise Holden
End of Watch: August 4, 1995
Detective Paul A. Hale
End of Watch: July 11, 1997
Officer Charles R. Paul
End of Watch: September 10, 2002
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