By Erin Smith
All was quiet at the Fallen Heroes Memorial on the front lawn of the Bladen County Courthouse on Wednesday morning. Traffic passed slowly and there was no large crowd as County employees somberly went about the task of adding one more name to the memorial.
A brick was added to the memorial to honor fallen NC Highway Patrol Trooper Kevin Conner, who was killed in the line of duty. The memorial honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the lives and property of Bladen County residents.
Bladen County Commissioner Chairman Charles Ray Paterson said, “It’s not about a celebration. It’s about showing our respect for him and our law enforcement in Bladen County.”
Bladen County Manager Greg Martin said Chairman Peterson made the request for Trooper Conner’s name to be added to the memorial.
Robert Hester with Cape Fear Memorials donated and prepared the paver brick that honors Trooper Conner, according to Martin.
Trooper Conner was killed in the line of duty while making a traffic stop in Columbus County. According to the North Carolina Highway Patrol, at approximately 12:15 a.m. on Wednesday, October 17th, 2018, Trooper Conner stopped a white GMC pick-up truck for a speeding violation on US 701 near Sellers Town Road in Columbus County. As Trooper Conner approached the vehicle, shots were fired striking the Trooper and he later died of his injuries at the hospital.
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