H
HaHa
Guest
Had a deputy that I have worked with die in a hail of gunfire last weekend. Didn't know him well, since I work with the city, but have worked cases with him before. I was able to be part of the procession which stretched for miles. As far as you could see there were blue lights and even in the end a fly over by law enforcement helicopters. This funeral was one of the most amazing sites I have seen. From the American flag which looked to be the size of a football field, to the amount of support from agencies all the way from Chicago and New York. It was like a parade route. The amount of support we received from the public, which that itself was amazing as hell due to the amount of hate mail that just I receive.
Well, for the handful of you who care, here is his story...
CONYERS — A Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office deputy was shot and killed Saturday afternoon while serving a warrant in a residential neighborhood off Honey Creek Road. The suspect involved in the shooting also died.
RCSO spokeswoman Sgt. Jodi Shupe said Deputy Brian Lamar Mahaffey died at Rockdale Medical Center where he was taken after the shooting.
The other man was identified by a family member as Terry Brown, who was at the residence when Mahaffey arrived.
Shupe said that the incident stemmed from the investigation of a **** that occurred Friday night. Shupe described the **** as “pretty serious” and Mahaffey, along with eight other RCSO deputies and investigators, were serving a warrant. The men entered the house at 3504 Sand Hill Drive, about two blocks west of Honey Creek Elementary School when shots were fired. The deputies returned fire and killed the suspect.
Mahaffey, who had joined the RCSO Narcotics and Vice Unit last year, was taken by ambulance to RMC. A second Narcotics and Vice deputy was struck in the leg by shrapnel during the shooting. He was treated and released at RMC, Shupe said.
All of the deputies wore bullet proof vests. Shupe said Mahaffey was struck by a bullet at an unusual angle that left a fatal wound underneath the vest.
Because a suspect died from the incident, Sheriff's Office policy called for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to come in to investigate the shooting, Shupe said.
A beautiful spring afternoon was broken by sirens from law enforcement vehicles as they raced down Ga. Highway 20 to respond to the call. Sheriff’s deputies controlled traffic and blocked off entrance to Sand Hill Drive from Honey Creek Road. But several neighbors and onlookers were outside of the scene, standing at the intersection of Sand Hill Drive and Honey Creek Road.
Units of the Georgia State Patrol and Conyers Police Department were also on the scene.
“I mean, there were 35 cop cars out here earlier, three ambulances, a life flight (helicopter),” local resident Kelly Howard said.
Howard said she was told the helicopter was going to land in her yard but the telephone wires were in the way.
Robert Seago was one of the neighbors out watching from across the street. He said he did not hear any gun shots or anything out the ordinary before officials arrived.
“I was back on the back porch and I didn’t hear a thing,” Seago said.
“The only thing I heard were sirens.”
Seago added that since he has lived there the neighborhood has always been pretty quiet.
“It’s always been a nice place to live,” Seago said.
Terry’s wife, Mary Brown, told the Citizen her husband was inside the residence where the shot deputy served the warrant. Brown said her husband called her and, in a very short phone conversation, told her to ‘Just call my (mother) ... and tell her I love them.’”
Mary Brown said she did not hear any gun shots or anything in the background. She was concerned from the phone call and drove to the house.
“It was just loaded with tapes and police cars,” Mary Brown said. She added that she was upset and expressed frustration because she was not getting any information from officials.
“I don’t know. I just don’t know,” Brown said.
Mahaffey joined the Sheriff’s Office in July 2005. After his certification, he transferred to the Uniformed Division. He became an undercover deputy for the Narcotics and Vice Unit in February 2009.
Shupe said many in the Sheriff’s Office were stunned upon hearing the news of Mahaffey’s death, and the impact of losing a fellow deputy will take a few days to fully understand.
Mahaffey was the first RCSO deputy to die in the line of duty since the end of the 19th century. He was married with two children.
News Editor Jay Jones contributed to this story.
CONYERS — Thousands of people became an extended family as they united to say a final farewell to Investigator Brian Lamar Mahaffey, a fallen Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office deputy who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
Mahaffey was shot and killed Saturday in the line of duty while he and other investigators in the RCSO Narcotics and Vice Unit served an arrest warrant at a house off Honey Creek Road.
Family, friends, co-workers and the community packed the pews of the main floor and balcony of the First Baptist Church of Conyers Wednesday afternoon to memorialize Mahaffey.
Scores of white-gloved, uniformed police officers and law enforcement deputies wearing reflective brass sat in the choir loft during a funeral service that included songs, prayer and a photo slide show of Mahaffey with his family.
“We’re here to honor one who gave his life and service to his community,” Rockdale County Sheriff Jeff Wigington said. “We’ve all come together to honor this young hero.”
Mahaffey, 28, was a life-long Conyers resident and joined the RCSO in 2005. He started out as a detention deputy in the jail, then progressed to join the Uniform Patrol Division. Mahaffey became an investigator with the Narcotics and Vice Unit in 2009.
“Brian had a very large family, extended family, but he was part of another, very, very large family,” Wigington said, referring to the law enforcement fraternity.
More than 45 different police departments and law enforcement agencies from Georgia and out-of-state paid their respects to Mahaffey, referred to as a “brother.”
A couple of RCSO deputies recounted times they shared with Mahaffey.
“Brian was always a jokester. I can’t tell you what we joked about,” Investigator Scott Stewart said, receiving a light laugh from the congregation.
Stewart told tales of fishing trips with Mahaffey.
Investigator Jake Coggins followed to tell of Mahaffey’s love for cars and stereos. Coggins also testified to Mahaffey’s character that genuinely reflected a public servant.
“At any time, he would’ve given the shirt off his back or even walk to the end of the world to help a friend in need,” Coggins said.
Mahaffey’s sister-in-law, Michaela Simoes, described Mahaffey’s home life as a husband and father. Simoes pledged that Mahaffey’s memory will stay with the two children he left behind.
“Not a day will go by that they will wonder if he loved them,” Simoes said of 2-year-old Trenton and 3-month-old Anniston.
Ebenezer Methodist Church senior pastor Robert Winstead said it was incomprehensive and “terribly unfair” how a good father and loving son as Mahaffey was taken away.
“And that’s just it. It makes no sense,” Winstead said. “Life’s deepest questions have no easy answers.”
But through the sound of sniffles and the sight of white tissues, Winstead assured the crowd, in and out of uniform.
“We know in this place are people who love and love deeply,” Winstead said. “We’ll get through this hour and the days to come.”
CBS NEWS-
CONYERS, Ga -- Hundreds of emergency responders from all over Georgia, as well as everyday citizens, lined the streets of Conyers Wednesday to say goodbye to Rockdale County Sheriff's Deputy Brian Mahaffey.
"This was a young man who lost his life needlessly," said Conyers resident Marc Canonn.
Sheriff Jeff Wigington said Mahaffey and three other deputies went to serve an arrest warrant at a home on Sand Hill Drive Southeast Saturday. He said the shooter was in a back bedroom closet with a gun. The shooter fired and the shots went through the door and wall, hitting Mahaffey, Wigington said. Another deputy was hit with shrapnel but was not treated at the hospital, Wigington said
This is the first time in 90 years a Rockdale County sheriff's deputy has been killed in the line of duty.
"One day he went to work and the next day he didn't come home," said Rockdale homeowner Sherry Mitchell. "It is a life lost way to soon."
A long procession of cars featuring dozens of law enforcement vehicles from around the state escorted the Mahaffey family to the memorial service at First Baptist Church in Conyers. Many shed tears and waved American flags in a show of respect. Although there is likely nothing that can ease the pain of Mahaffey's death, Rockdale County residents said their hearts go out to Mahaffey's wife and two children.
"We love them and we're here to support them," said J.W. Mitchell. "We will always be here."
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The worst part was when at the end of the ceremony the county called his name and badge number on the radio and announced his tour of duty had ended. We actually shut down a major highway and most motorists had exited their vehicle to wave at us or thank us for doing a job that we already love doing. No one seemed to mind. Never have I seen such an outpouring of grief and support than what I witnessed yesterday, the whole ceremony was amazing.
Hopefully itll be the last time I see it.
Well, for the handful of you who care, here is his story...
CONYERS — A Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office deputy was shot and killed Saturday afternoon while serving a warrant in a residential neighborhood off Honey Creek Road. The suspect involved in the shooting also died.
RCSO spokeswoman Sgt. Jodi Shupe said Deputy Brian Lamar Mahaffey died at Rockdale Medical Center where he was taken after the shooting.
The other man was identified by a family member as Terry Brown, who was at the residence when Mahaffey arrived.
Shupe said that the incident stemmed from the investigation of a **** that occurred Friday night. Shupe described the **** as “pretty serious” and Mahaffey, along with eight other RCSO deputies and investigators, were serving a warrant. The men entered the house at 3504 Sand Hill Drive, about two blocks west of Honey Creek Elementary School when shots were fired. The deputies returned fire and killed the suspect.
Mahaffey, who had joined the RCSO Narcotics and Vice Unit last year, was taken by ambulance to RMC. A second Narcotics and Vice deputy was struck in the leg by shrapnel during the shooting. He was treated and released at RMC, Shupe said.
All of the deputies wore bullet proof vests. Shupe said Mahaffey was struck by a bullet at an unusual angle that left a fatal wound underneath the vest.
Because a suspect died from the incident, Sheriff's Office policy called for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to come in to investigate the shooting, Shupe said.
A beautiful spring afternoon was broken by sirens from law enforcement vehicles as they raced down Ga. Highway 20 to respond to the call. Sheriff’s deputies controlled traffic and blocked off entrance to Sand Hill Drive from Honey Creek Road. But several neighbors and onlookers were outside of the scene, standing at the intersection of Sand Hill Drive and Honey Creek Road.
Units of the Georgia State Patrol and Conyers Police Department were also on the scene.
“I mean, there were 35 cop cars out here earlier, three ambulances, a life flight (helicopter),” local resident Kelly Howard said.
Howard said she was told the helicopter was going to land in her yard but the telephone wires were in the way.
Robert Seago was one of the neighbors out watching from across the street. He said he did not hear any gun shots or anything out the ordinary before officials arrived.
“I was back on the back porch and I didn’t hear a thing,” Seago said.
“The only thing I heard were sirens.”
Seago added that since he has lived there the neighborhood has always been pretty quiet.
“It’s always been a nice place to live,” Seago said.
Terry’s wife, Mary Brown, told the Citizen her husband was inside the residence where the shot deputy served the warrant. Brown said her husband called her and, in a very short phone conversation, told her to ‘Just call my (mother) ... and tell her I love them.’”
Mary Brown said she did not hear any gun shots or anything in the background. She was concerned from the phone call and drove to the house.
“It was just loaded with tapes and police cars,” Mary Brown said. She added that she was upset and expressed frustration because she was not getting any information from officials.
“I don’t know. I just don’t know,” Brown said.
Mahaffey joined the Sheriff’s Office in July 2005. After his certification, he transferred to the Uniformed Division. He became an undercover deputy for the Narcotics and Vice Unit in February 2009.
Shupe said many in the Sheriff’s Office were stunned upon hearing the news of Mahaffey’s death, and the impact of losing a fellow deputy will take a few days to fully understand.
Mahaffey was the first RCSO deputy to die in the line of duty since the end of the 19th century. He was married with two children.
News Editor Jay Jones contributed to this story.
CONYERS — Thousands of people became an extended family as they united to say a final farewell to Investigator Brian Lamar Mahaffey, a fallen Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office deputy who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
Mahaffey was shot and killed Saturday in the line of duty while he and other investigators in the RCSO Narcotics and Vice Unit served an arrest warrant at a house off Honey Creek Road.
Family, friends, co-workers and the community packed the pews of the main floor and balcony of the First Baptist Church of Conyers Wednesday afternoon to memorialize Mahaffey.
Scores of white-gloved, uniformed police officers and law enforcement deputies wearing reflective brass sat in the choir loft during a funeral service that included songs, prayer and a photo slide show of Mahaffey with his family.
“We’re here to honor one who gave his life and service to his community,” Rockdale County Sheriff Jeff Wigington said. “We’ve all come together to honor this young hero.”
Mahaffey, 28, was a life-long Conyers resident and joined the RCSO in 2005. He started out as a detention deputy in the jail, then progressed to join the Uniform Patrol Division. Mahaffey became an investigator with the Narcotics and Vice Unit in 2009.
“Brian had a very large family, extended family, but he was part of another, very, very large family,” Wigington said, referring to the law enforcement fraternity.
More than 45 different police departments and law enforcement agencies from Georgia and out-of-state paid their respects to Mahaffey, referred to as a “brother.”
A couple of RCSO deputies recounted times they shared with Mahaffey.
“Brian was always a jokester. I can’t tell you what we joked about,” Investigator Scott Stewart said, receiving a light laugh from the congregation.
Stewart told tales of fishing trips with Mahaffey.
Investigator Jake Coggins followed to tell of Mahaffey’s love for cars and stereos. Coggins also testified to Mahaffey’s character that genuinely reflected a public servant.
“At any time, he would’ve given the shirt off his back or even walk to the end of the world to help a friend in need,” Coggins said.
Mahaffey’s sister-in-law, Michaela Simoes, described Mahaffey’s home life as a husband and father. Simoes pledged that Mahaffey’s memory will stay with the two children he left behind.
“Not a day will go by that they will wonder if he loved them,” Simoes said of 2-year-old Trenton and 3-month-old Anniston.
Ebenezer Methodist Church senior pastor Robert Winstead said it was incomprehensive and “terribly unfair” how a good father and loving son as Mahaffey was taken away.
“And that’s just it. It makes no sense,” Winstead said. “Life’s deepest questions have no easy answers.”
But through the sound of sniffles and the sight of white tissues, Winstead assured the crowd, in and out of uniform.
“We know in this place are people who love and love deeply,” Winstead said. “We’ll get through this hour and the days to come.”
CBS NEWS-
CONYERS, Ga -- Hundreds of emergency responders from all over Georgia, as well as everyday citizens, lined the streets of Conyers Wednesday to say goodbye to Rockdale County Sheriff's Deputy Brian Mahaffey.
"This was a young man who lost his life needlessly," said Conyers resident Marc Canonn.
Sheriff Jeff Wigington said Mahaffey and three other deputies went to serve an arrest warrant at a home on Sand Hill Drive Southeast Saturday. He said the shooter was in a back bedroom closet with a gun. The shooter fired and the shots went through the door and wall, hitting Mahaffey, Wigington said. Another deputy was hit with shrapnel but was not treated at the hospital, Wigington said
This is the first time in 90 years a Rockdale County sheriff's deputy has been killed in the line of duty.
"One day he went to work and the next day he didn't come home," said Rockdale homeowner Sherry Mitchell. "It is a life lost way to soon."
A long procession of cars featuring dozens of law enforcement vehicles from around the state escorted the Mahaffey family to the memorial service at First Baptist Church in Conyers. Many shed tears and waved American flags in a show of respect. Although there is likely nothing that can ease the pain of Mahaffey's death, Rockdale County residents said their hearts go out to Mahaffey's wife and two children.
"We love them and we're here to support them," said J.W. Mitchell. "We will always be here."
------------------------------------------------------------------
The worst part was when at the end of the ceremony the county called his name and badge number on the radio and announced his tour of duty had ended. We actually shut down a major highway and most motorists had exited their vehicle to wave at us or thank us for doing a job that we already love doing. No one seemed to mind. Never have I seen such an outpouring of grief and support than what I witnessed yesterday, the whole ceremony was amazing.
Hopefully itll be the last time I see it.
