Community News

LIGHTNING PHOTOS: Service pays tribute to fallen officers

By Bill Moss, Published: May 19, 2023

Henderson County Sheriff’s deputies, police officers and other first responders gathered at the Historic Courthouse Plaza on Thursday to pay tribute to law enforcement officers who gave their lives in the line of duty during National Police Week.

In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15 falls, as National Police Week.
“This week also has a tremendous impact here locally as we take a moment to honor two of the finest men to ever wear the bag and serve this community,” Sheriff Lowell Griffin told the crowd standing under umbrellas in a light rain. “Cpl. Shane Thomas and Deputy Ryan Hendrix both gave all and made that ultimate sacrifice. We will always cherish the time God allowed us to spend with them and appreciate the lasting impact that they had on us individually and throughout the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office.”

Hendersonville Police Chief Blair Myhand paid tribute to Officer Dennie Quay Enevold, a Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam who was shot in the line of duty on Nov. 22, 1981, and died the next day.
“Married only nine months, Denny gave the ultimate sacrifice when he was shot and killed on Ashe street just a block away from where our new police department stands today,” Myhand said.
The ceremony, which included the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard, ended with then playing of “Taps” by sheriff’s Cpl. Jason Morrow.