Sergeant William Dean Arledge North Carolina Highway Patrol North Carolina Saturday, October 5, 1974  Leave a Reflection  Return to Memorial  Print This Page  Continue Building Book  Page: 1 of 1

Your heroism and service is honored today, the 35th anniversary of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service to my home state and the birthplace of my son. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

Rest In Peace

Phyllis Loya

Anonymous

2009-10-08

Sgt. Arledge,
On today, the 35th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you to you and your fellow Trooper for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of the state of North Carolina. And to your family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous

2009-10-05

As my career's end is coming closer, I decided to check and find those who had lost their lives during the year that I was hired. While it's been many years since your passing, I'm sure those you left behind and those whom with you served with distinction have kept you alive in their memories. Thank you for your service and for looking out for us who continue in our chosen profession. Rest in peace Sgt. Arledge.

Sgt. Robert Mau Sr.
PD Joliet IL
2008-12-19

I FIRST MET DEAN IN 1974 WHILE ATTENDING THE GOVERNOR'S HIGHWAY SAFETY SCHOOL IN CHARLOTTE,N.C,AND PUT ON BY NORTH-WESTERN UNIVERSITY. THIS PROGRAM WAS IN MANAGEMENT SAN LASTED FOR EIGHT WEEKS.

DURING THAT TIME I WAS WITH THE NEWTON POLICE DEPT. AD WAS IN SHOCK OF ALL THE TROOPERS IN MY CLASS.DEAN, LT. R.A. CLARK, EARNIE WOODS,AND SGT.WOOTEN.

WAS NO MORE THAN TWO WEEKS AFTER GRADUATION, THAT DEAN MET HIS FATE.

I CANT HELP BUT THINK THAT DEAN DID NOT HEAR ALOT OF WHAT WENT ON. BECAUSE DURING SCHOOL, HE ASKED TO BE MOVED TO THE FRONT OF THE CLASS BECAUSE HE COULD NOT HEAR WELL.
THIS HAS ALWAYS CAUSED ME TO PONDER AND WOUNDER IF THIS COULD HAVE BEEN PART OF WHAT CAUSED SOME OF THE HEART BREAK OF THAT NIGHT.

OVER THE YEARS, I HAVE TRIED TO WRITE AND E-MAIL THOSE THAT MIGHT HAVE KNOWN HIM INCLUDING HIS WIFE. THIS HAS BEEN TO NO AVAIL.

I STILL HAVE THAT GRADUATION PICTURE OF ALL OF US. AND THE GREAT MEMORIES THAT GO ALONG WITH IT.

MIKE MOORE
CATAWBA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT.(RET.)

MIKE MOORE
CATAWBA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT.(RET.)
2008-05-11

"The Badge"

He starts his shift each day
To respond to calls unknown.
He drives a marked patrol car.
A police officer he is known.

He's paid by the citizens' taxes
To make it safe on the streets.
But he usually has a second job
'Cause a waitress has his salary beat.

Now he doesn't know a holiday
'Cause he works all year round.
And when Thanksgiving and Christmas finally arrive
At his home he cannot be found.

He's cursed and assaulted often,
The one whos blood runs blue.
He seldom ever gets a thanks,
To some he's just a fool.

His friends are always other cops
'Cause people just don't understand
That underneath his badge and gun,
He's just another man.

He knows there might not be a tomorrow
In this world of drugs and crime.
And he gets so mad at the court system
'Cause the crooks don't get any time.

And each day when he leaves for work,
He prays to God above.
Please bring me home after my shift
So I can see the ones I love.

But tonight he stops a speeding car,
He's alone down this ole' highway.
It's just a little traffic infraction.
He does it everyday.

Well, he walks up to the driver's window,
And his badge is shining bright.
He asked the guy for a driver's license,
When a shot rang through the night.

Yes, the bullet hit its mark,
Striking the officer in the chest.
But the Department's budget didn't buy
Each officer a bullet-proof vest.

So he lay on the ground bleeding.
His blood wasn't blue - His blood was red.
And briefly he thought of his loved ones
'Cause in a moment the officer was dead.

In the news they told the story
Of how this officer had died.
And some who listened cared less,
But those who loved him cried.

Well, they buried him in uniform
With his badge pinned on his chest.
He even had his revolver,
He died doing his best.

Written By:
David L. Bell
Sergeant
Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1999 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC
2007-12-27

You are remembered today and thank you sir for your service.

pat Van Den Berghe NH

2007-10-14

You are remembered today and thank you Sir for your service.

Pat Van Den Berghe< NH

2007-10-14

SGT ARLEDGE, MAY GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE. YOU HAVE SERVED WELL. A HERO FOR SURE. MAY YOU REST IN PEACE.

CHIEF RONNIE WATFORD-RET.
JEFFERSON POLICE DEPT,S.C.
2007-10-05

Sgt. Arledge, neither you nor your sacrifice will ever be forgotten.

Michelle - wife of Retired LEO

2007-07-18

Dean, Larry, still miss and think of you often, even after 32 years.

Trooper SMW
NC SHP
2006-08-30

Thank you Trooper for your service.

Trooper
FHP
2005-05-14

On the anniversary of your death, I salute you for your service and honor you for your sacrifice.

A hero never dies....

God bless, hero. Rest in peace.

A grateful citizen.

2004-10-05

I was just a kid in elementary school when this terrible day came to be. As a son and grandson of a cop, and aspiring lawman who was not yet even out of grade school, I watched with disbelief and horror that someone would execute 2 highway patrolmen. I thought NC troopers were invincible. Seeing them on the road inspired me to be a trooper.

This still causes pain in Western NC almost 30 years later. One of the patrolmen who found the 2 patrolmen's bodies, left the patrol on disability from the grief. He was one of Sgt. Arledge's best friends. As a result of this terrible night, the breath-test room was moved into the secured booking area of th jail, gun lockboxes were installed and video cameras were mounted.

The drunken bum who did this was arrested a block away the next morning by the jail, by an ongoing jailer. He still had the trooperr's .357 on him with 2 spent shells in the cylinder. He was sent to prison for life, watching TV, lifting weights and getting his teeth fixed at taxpayer's expense. alot better deal than these two Patrolmen got.

How sad. Such fine men, their lives cut short. TPR Canipe would have over 30 if he had survived. SGT Arledge was so highly thought of by the old folks in Buncombe County. Both were gentlemen.

Now, three decades later, please pray for their families, friends and colleagues. The pain is still there.

They now patrol the highways of Heaven with St. Michael. Be safe and God Bless.

Chief JA Millan
NC Public Schools, Avery Dist SP

A good man. May God Bless You In The Heavens.

Lt. Thomas
North Carolina Highway Patrol