Futcher family, Lewes officers attend national memorial service

Members of the family of Charles W. Futcher Sr. and two Lewes police officers attended a ceremony in Washington D.C., May 13, when Futcher's name was added to the National Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial which honors officers from across the nation who have died in the line of duty. Futcher's name was more of more than 300 who were added to the memorial this year.  The memorial now includes more than 19,000 names.

Thousands of people attended the dedication ceremony at the memorial located in Judiciary Square at 400 7th Street in Washington. "To see our Charles's name engraved on the memorial was both exciting and moving," said June Rose Futcher, granddaughter of the senior Futcher.

Each name of officers being added to the memorial was read during the dedication ceremony which also included a candlelight vigil in memory of the officers. The dedication ceremony, said Futcher, attracted a crowd of more than 20,000 family members, friends and police officers. Lewes Police Officer Bruce Ritter, when doing research for department history, discovered that Futcher was the only Lewes police officer killed in the line of duty. His name was placed last year on a new Delaware memorial in Dover for faller officers and was also submitted, and accepted, for placement on the national monument for the 2011 ceremony.  The ceremony takes place each year during National Police Officers' Week.

He was also honored with a proclamation presented to his family during the May 10 Sussex County Council meeting.

Charles W. Futcher Sr., 38, was a Lewes police officer, and a Sussex County constable, when he lost control of his patrol car during a high-speed chase on Savannah Road in Lewes in August of 1939.  The car crashed into the steps and front of Groome United Methodist Church. Although his injuries didn't appear serious enough to warrant hospitalization, Futcher died one week later following an apparent heart attack. The attending physician, Dr. Leland Fox, said the heart attack was likely caused by the traumatic contusion to the chest suffered by Futcher in the crash. On the death certificate, the physician noted that Futcher was killed in the line of duty.