Dark skies rain as city honors its fallen finest

Gray clouds cried rain on the names of fallen and slain Charlottesville police officers as residents and officers dedicated a Market Street monument Monday to those who served the city to the end.
The black stone marker, engraved with the department’s badge, shoulder patch and St. Michael carrying a fallen officer toward heaven, stands in a flowerbed facing the street. As television cameras rolled and still cameras flashed, department officials talked about the monument.
“This memorial is only a piece of rock with names inscribed on it, but its meaning is so much more,” Police Chief Timothy J. Longo said. “Not only is this an opportunity to recognize those officers in our own department who gave their lives, but to honor all the officers who work here and have worked here, as well.”
Chaplain Rev. Edward Hopkins told the gathering that those who serve society in a peacemaker’s role are blessed.
“It’s a tough job and it’s a way of life different than that of the world, and in that there is a blessing,” he said.
The monument was the idea of Detective Logan Woodzell and was designed by Sgt. David C. Jones. Jones received significant support from Heritage Memorials and advice from Officer Down Memorial Page, a Web site dedicated to officers who have died or were killed while on duty.
The memorial bears the names of two officers, Lt. Robert Frazier, who died in 2002, and Patrolman George Seal, who died in 1888.
Seal, it is believed, was at the end of his shift on Dec. 31, 1888, and escorting a prisoner when the man fought with the officer, grabbed his service weapon and shot the officer. The man was tracked down and arrested in Richmond, according to the Officer Down Web site.
According to the site, the man was convicted and that conviction was later overturned. The Virginia Supreme Court upheld the conviction and he was executed.
If the information is accurate, the memorial was dedicated on the 117th anniversary of the hanging of Seal’s killer.
Frazier died of a heart attack while assigned by the department to the prestigious FBI academy in Quantico.
Jones, who spent more than a year on the memorial project, considers the effort a labor of love.
“Bob Frazier was a good friend,” Jones said. “He was in charge of the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement team, the SWAT team and was involved in police work on many levels. He died while representing the department at a prestigious training program.”
Although the monument has only two names and plenty of space, Jones said there is no room for others.
“We have space on it, yes,” he said. “But we don’t want to put any more names on it. Two is enough.”