Officer down

[roadranger]

This past week we lost a local Deputy Sherriff. David Gilstrap lost his life in the line of duty. He was directing traffic in a school zone, last thursday 10/09/08, when he, at this point, was run down by a motorist. Around 7:30 am, the event happend, and of course, I heard it on the radio. I had decided to turn on the scanner, because it had been raining over night. Unfortunately, the officer was found unconcious (?) according to another officer talking to the dispatcher. I think the poor man fell on his head. Other officers wear helmets, but apparently not this one. I don't know if helmets are manditory. They rushed him to a local hospital in Athens, Ga., with police escort. He died of his injuries at about 10:45pm.
The funeral was Sunday the 12th, and hundreds of officers, EMT's and firefighters turned out, from all over the state of Goergia.
This is the first officer to have ever died in the line of duty in the county of Oconee, I beleive it was reported as in the Athens-Banner Herald News.
The stories can probably still be found at onlinesathens.com. Forgive me, I can't link you there myself.

[CapStar362]

ive never seen a officer wear a helmet when directing traffic on foot?

[roadranger]

Originally Posted by CapStar362

ive never seen a officer wear a helmet when directing traffic on foot?

well, they had appeared, recently. It may be a part of homeland security funding for our county.

[lucas2121]

The sad thing is that I work for the doctor who responded to the trauma page. When he came back from the hospital he was really upset, he said that their was nothing he could do and that he had massive head trauma but they were going to donate his organs. I don't know the doctor who did the operation to get the organs. A sad day

[roadranger]

Do you know any more?

[lucas2121]

Wish I did but no, sorry

[Kcomm]

I saw this on the news when it happened, so tragic. I think they said he was run down by an old woman?