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  • North Carolina Highway Patrol Troopers pay tribute to their fallen comrade, Bobby Gene DeMuth, at his funeral Thursday. DeMuth was killed in the line of duty on Sept. 8. The Daily Southerner

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September 17, 2012

‘... We've been blessed’

Only four law enforcement officers have died while serving in Edgecombe

The Daily Southerner Calvin Adkins

TARBORO — Thus far in 2012, a total of 83 law enforcement officers — including five in North Carolina — have lost their lives in the line of duty in the United States. The average age of the fallen officers was 41 and their average tour of duty was 13 years.

Those sobering numbers hit close to home last week when an Edgecombe County native and North Carolina State Trooper, Bobby Gene DeMuth, became one of those statistics.

DeMuth was killed instantly on Sept. 8, when he was attempting to deploy stop sticks on U.S. 64 in Nash County to stop Christopher Rodgers, who was driving in the wrong direction in the west lane. Rodgers was charged with first-degree murder and a slew of other charges in connection with DeMuth's death and the series of incidents leading up to it.   

Since DeMuth's death, five more officers were killed in the line of duty, including Officer Mark Allen Taulbee of Kentucky, who died Sunday. Taulbee died while participating in a vehicle pursuit.

Fortunately for Edgecombe County officers, losing a fellow officer in the line of duty has been a rare occurrence.

The most recent came in 1990 when Edgecombe County Deputy Sheriff Thomas Alan Cone was killed when his patrol car was hit head-on by a drunk driver on U.S. Highway 64 Alternate one mile west of Tarboro.

Another deputy, William H. Webb, died in 1964 from gunshots while he was attempting to make an arrest in Speed.

In Tarboro, two Police officers were killed 95 years ago while searching a house for illegal whiskey. The two officers were buried beside one other in Greenwood Cemetery.

"All I can say is that we've been blessed," said Edgecombe County Sheriff James Knight. "But it has happened all around us. It seems like we hear of at least one every month somewhere or other. But this one (DeMuth) hit home."

Knight was among the hundreds of law enforcement officers who came from as far away as Alaska, to pay final respect to DeMuth last Thursday. Some of them noticeably wept while other eyes were teary.

Losing DeMuth was a reminder to all of just how dangerous law enforcement jobs are. Shari Pittman-Dozier, the husband of Tarboro Police Cpl. Ricky Dozier, knows the danger her husband faces.

"When Ricky leaves the house, I tell him to come back home," she said. "A wife doesn't want to get the news that something bad has happened to their husband on the job. At any given time it could be my husband. I just pray to God and ask him to build a fence around him and all law enforcement officers."

The couple attended DeMuth's funeral. However, it wasn't the first funeral of a fallen law enforcement officer that Dozier has attended this year. In July, he and other members of the Tarboro Police Department attended the funeral of Lumberton Police Officer Jeremiah M. Goodson Jr., who was killed by gunfire.

"It's not a good feeling when a law enforcement officer has to attend the funeral of another law enforcement officer who has died in the line of duty," Dozier said. "It put us on alert and makes us more aware of our surroundings. It's sad every time we hear about a law enforcement officer dying in the line of duty.

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Pay-Dirt.jpg

Barrett Flowe, of Midland, drives Pay Dirt during the 2012 Pinetops 300. He and many others will be on hand this weekend at the annual tractor and truck pull.

  • PINETOPS 300

    PINETOPS  — One thing’s for certain, the first-time attendee at the Pinetops 300 truck and tractor pull will learn something in a hurry … these are not your Daddy and Grandaddy’s tractors!
    Some of the best known and most successful pullers in the country will converge School Street here tonight and Saturday to vie for honors in the longest running not-for-profit tractor pull in the Southeastern United States.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Happening in Tarboro Saturday
  • Parents and educators meet on school events and initiatives
Local News
DWI-Tests.jpg

The National Transportation Safety Board wants all 50 states to lower the blood alcohol content level to 0.05.

Sports
THS-Relay-Teams.jpg

Six Tarboro Viking track stars are going to compete in the NCHSAA 2-A state championship meet Friday in Greensboro at NC A&T State University.

  • Six Tarboro girls to compete in track finals

    Motivation is a big part of the Tarboro Viking girl's track team's success this season. They enjoy working hard during practice for their coach Rickie Dozier and get fulfillment when they compete in events. Friday will be no different for the six girls that are headed to Greensboro to compete in the NCHSAA 2-A state championship meet at North Carolina A&T State University. They will compete in three relay events and the long jump.

    May 16, 2013 2 Photos

  • BIG FISH
Opinion
  • We Salute...

    Each Friday, The Daily Southerner will recognize individuals, groups and businesses in Edgecombe County who have gone “above and beyond” in their effort to make this a better place to work, play and raise a family.

    May 17, 2013

Lifestyles
  • 5246-WED-Corbett.jpg Corbett/Chasse Wedding

    Brittney Joyce Corbett and Kenneth Robert Chasse, Jr. were united in marriage on April 6th, 2013, at 5:30pm at the Imperial Centre in Rocky Mount. The Rev. Carrol Bradbury officiated the ceremony.
    The Rehearsal Dinner was hosted by Shirley and Donald Foreman, Grandparents of the Groom and also Elisha and Kenneth Chasse, Parents of the Groom, at Pizza Inn in Rocky Mount.
    The Bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Durwood Corbett of Macclesfield, NC. The Groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Robert Leonel Chasse, Sr. of Pinetops, NC.

    May 13, 2013 1 Photo

Obituaries Archives
  • MATTIE RUTH BULLOCK

    BELVOIR — Mrs. Mattie Ruth Bullock, 81, passed away on Saturday, May 18, 2013. The funeral service will be conducted Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in the Wilkerson Funeral Chapel.  Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park, Wilson.
    Mrs. Bullock, a native of Wilson County and a lifelong resident of Pitt County, was a graduate of Belvoir-Falkland High School.  She was engaged in farming with her husband until 1989 and was a charter member of Belvoir Free Will Baptist Church.

    May 19, 2013

  • CLAYTON JERELL EPPS
  • NONA DEE EZZELLE
  • JESSE CLARENCE GARDNER JR.
  • CHRISTINE GORHAM
Food
Events
  • Edgecombe Events May 20

    Edgecombe Events should be submitted by noon the day before publication. Items eligible include notices of local meetings and activities of non-profit organizations, clubs, schools and civic groups in the community. Information should be brief and typewritten, neatly printed or via e-mail. Questions? 823-3106 or e-mail: events@dailysoutherner.com. Leave  a daytime contact phone number.

    May 19, 2013

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Tarboro's 2012 Christmas Parade


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