By Thea Jarvis

A memorial service for slain Fulton County police officer Christopher May was held at St. Jude the Apostle Church in Sandy Springs August 30.

Some 850 police from across the state of Georgia, public officials, friends and family paid tribute to Officer May, who was killed while investigating a Sandy Springs shooting Aug. 19.

May had served on the Fulton County police force for three years. He was only the second officer to die in the 16-year history of the force.

A funeral Mass for Officer May had been offered by Father Edward Dillon, chaplain of the Fulton County Police Department, in the officer’s hometown of Hammond, Indiana on Aug. 23.

Archbishop James P. Lyke, OFM, addressed the pre-Labor Day gathering at St. Jude’s, citing May’s authentic self-sacrifice, his courage and faithfulness, as a witness for others.

“Few modern occupations allow us to combine work with the sanctity of our own lives,” he said, adding that such a pledge to duty at the possible expense of one’s life is an everyday reality for police officers.

“Our brother lived his pledge faithfully, and he died in the performance of his duty,” said Archbishop Lyke, who was chaplain of the Afro-American Patrolmen’s League in Memphis during the 1970’s.

“We protect our souls by the power of the Gospel, but we protect our persons by the power of law,” said Archbishop Lyke. “I am grateful that I have this chance to thank all those engaged in law enforcement for their valorous and heroic work.”

The memorial service included tributes to May from Fulton County Police Chief Lewis Graham, Fulton County Commission Chairman Michael Lomax, Fulton County Commissioner Milton Farris, Officer Suzanne Brown, David Hendry and Paula Chambers.

John Hall and Jeff Wright, Officer May’s close friends on the police force, escorted his parents, Bill and Barbara May, who attended the service with their son, Rob.

Officer Wright was with May on the day of the shooting and had been pinned down for several hours during the shootout.

Chief Graham presented the May’s with a memorial flag and assistant police chief Harold Thomas gave the family a plaque mounted with May’s police badges.

“This was an opportunity for the officers to say goodbye to their friend,” said Father Edward Dillon, who has been Fulton County police chaplain since the department’s founding in 1975.

Father Dillon said Archbishop Lyke’s remarks indicated his official and personal support for police officers and addressed the difficulties of a vocation in the field of law enforcement. Remembering Officer May, he said, meant remembering the need for community understanding and support for the police.

Monsignor R. Donald Kiernan, chaplain of the Georgia State Patrol, and Father Dillon read the Scriptures. Fulton County police detective Ron Fuller and Andrew Hottell were soloists, while St. Jude’s music ministry offered choral selections.

Following the service, the congregation gathered outside church for a 21-gun salute and the playing of Taps. A missing man” helicopter flyover concluded the memorial.

Some of those attending the service had traveled to Indiana the week before to attend May’s funeral Mass.

According to Father Dillon, over 50 police officers and chiefs Graham and Thomas were among those who made the trip. One group of 10 officers chartered a small plane and others drove in a caravan of some 12 patrol cars.

“It was very impressive,” Father Dillon said. “So many police officers came in solidarity” to the funeral. “It demonstrated a tremendous support.”

We protect our soul by the power of the Gospel, but we protect our persons by the power of law…I am grateful that I have this chance to thank all those engaged in law enforcement for their valorous and heroic work.

Archbishop James P. Lyke, OFM