Three North Georgia law officers who died in the line of duty have had their names added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Nicolas Blane Dixon, a deputy with the Hall County Sheriff's Office, was shot and killed by a criminal suspect on July 8, 2019 in Gainesville. Dixon, a three-year veteran of the department, was 28 years old at the time of his death.
Forsyth County Sheriff's Deputy Spencer Allen Englett collapsed during a training exercise on April 14, 2019. Englett, who was 29, had worked for the department for almost two years at the time of his death.
Officer Bobbie Sue Hoenie's name also was engraved on the memorial. Hoenie worked for both the Dawson County Sheriff's Office and the Hall County Sheriff's Office. She was killed on March 20, 1998 when a tornado struck northern Hall County. She had stopped to help a stranded motorist when she was struck and killed by a vehicle.
A total of 307 names were engraved on the marble monument and each was read aloud in a virtual ceremony. The candlelight vigil was held on May 13, 2020 and was moved online in light of the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis. The entire ceremony can be viewed on the group's Facebook page.
According to information on the website for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, the monument is centered in the 400 block of E Street, NW, in Washington, DC and is the nation’s monument to law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. Dedicated on October 15, 1991, the memorial honors federal, state and local law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the safety and protection of our nation and its people.
