Community coming together to raise money to help officers’ families
Published 9:54 pm Tuesday, October 2, 2018
An account has been set up at Bank of Brookhaven to honor the two city police officers killed Saturday in the line of duty, and others are stepping up to raise money for their families as well.
Cpl. Zach Moak and officer James White were fatally shot while on a call Saturday morning.
Donations can be made to the account, set up by The Daily Leader, at the bank at 411 Brookway Blvd. or at the newspaper office.
At least two individuals are offering T-shirts for sale to raise money for the Moak and White families, and a silent auction is planned for later this month.
Katie Windham, who owns Mobile Diesel Service in Brookhaven, collaborated with Blake East at Brookhaven Graphics on the design for her shirt. The front of the black T-shirt features a small logo over the heart area that shows an outline of the state with a blue line across it and a star marking Brookhaven. The words “Lincoln County Strong” are printed over the top of the state.
The back is a full-sized American flag in grayscale with one blue stripe and the verse “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” from Matthew 5:9.
Shirts are $20 for youth XS to adult XL, $22 for 2X, $24 for 3X and $26 for 4X.
Payments can be made to PayPal at Lincolncountystrong@gmail.com or with cash or check at Mobile Diesel Service at 654 Industrial Park Road.
The deadline for orders and payment is Oct. 13. Shipping is available. Call 601-833-3570 for information.
Zach Harveston, a former Lincoln County dispatcher now working in communications for the United States Capitol Police in Washington, D.C., is also selling T-shirts to raise funds for the families.
He held a similar fundraiser when Deputy William Durr was killed in the line of duty last year.
“They give their lives each and every day. Some have made the ultimate sacrifice and paid more than others,” he said. “They give so much to our community, our state and our government, the least I could do is give back something as small as this to their families and have something to remember them by.”
Harveston’s design includes a small logo representing the Brookhaven Police Department on the front and an outline of the state with a blue stripe and a blue star on a black T-shirt.
The officers names, the BPD badge and the BPD patch are pictured along with the words, “Two heroes that will never be forgotten.”
Shirts are $20 each for sizes youth XS to adult XL and $22 for 2X to 6X.
Orders can be dropped off at Brookhaven Police Department at 440 Hwy. 51, submitted by email at thinbluelinebrookhaven@gmail.com or through paypal.me/bpdthinblueline.
Shipping is available for an additional charge.
The deadline for the first order is Oct. 15. A second order will be placed Oct. 31.
For more information call 601-757-9797.
A silent auction will be held at Lincoln Civic Center Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. with proceeds benefiting the officers’ families, said Director Quinn Jordan.
Donations for the auction, which is being organized by Brad Gatlin of Southern Fried Coatings, can be dropped off at the civic center at 1096 Belt Line Drive NE Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.