The four-by-eight-foot sign sits in Bobby Howard's front yard, American flags and a pair of blue lights perched atop its posts.
All too often lately, the bulbs have burned bright.
"When these lights are on... it means that another member of the law enforcement community has lost their life in the line of duty," the sign reads, in part. "This light will stay on for 48 hours as a reminder to all that no matter where you are in this country, the people that are committed 'to protect and serve' are doing the job they were called to do."
Howard, a Snellville city councilman, said Monday he has many friends in law enforcement and that he felt called to find some way to thank them and their brothers and sisters in blue. He put his sign up shortly after the July day when five law enforcement officers were killed in Dallas, Texas and, ever since, has faithfully turned the lights on following the death of every fallen American officer.
"It was just too much and too often," Howard said.
Those honored in recent weeks have included five men from Georgia:
- On Nov. 6, two Peach County sheriff's deputies were ambushed in Byron. Sgt. Patrick Sondron was pronounced dead at the county hospital and Deputy Daryl Smallwood died two days later.
- On. Nov. 18, U.S. Marshal Patrick Carothers was shot and killed while attempting to apprehend a fugitive in Long County. Carothers lived in Flowery Branch and was deeply involved at Gwinnett County's Greater Atlanta Christian School.
- Last week, Americus police Officer Nicholas Smarr and Georgia Southwestern State University Officer Jody Smith were shot while responding to a domestic call and died in the following days.
Two Byron police officers were also wounded during a Monday morning shootout in the central Georgia town, but they were expected to survive.
Howard said Monday that he did receive a few negative comments on social media after he first posted about his sign, but that the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. His attempt to say thank you has been well-received.
"Nine times out of 10, if you have a problem, regardless of your stance about police or law enforcement or anything else, the first thing you do is call 911," he said. "And they come. They don't question whether you support them or not."
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