Dalton Police hold Peace Officers Memorial Day ceremony

DALTON, Ga. (WDEF) — The Dalton Police Department hosted its annual Peace Officers Memorial Day.

The ceremony continues the department’s tradition of a joint observance of National Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day.

The department’s honor guard was followed by recognition of all Georgia law enforcement officers lost in the line of duty in the past year.

The Chief Hannah Memorial at the site was dedicated in 2014.

It stands in honor of Chief William “Bill” Hannah, who is a former Chief of the Dalton Police who was killed in the line of duty in 1899.

The marker also bears the name of Officer Maurice Phillips, Sr. who was killed by an accidental gunshot during training in 1956.

Tom Phillips, son of Officer Maurice Phillips, said, “I was eighteen months old and Rich was 5, and our oldests brother was ten. There was three of us, and mom said dad loved being a police officer. He was shot and killed on Christmas day 1956. And we were just – I was a kid, I was a baby and Rich was a child. Mom said dad loved being a police officer.”

The memorial marker stands near the intersection of Jones Street and Waugh Street.