Peace Makers - Killed "Line of Duty" Corbin Times Tribune

The Bible says in the Book of Matthew, “Blessed are the peace makers”. The death of Bell County Deputy Sheriff Sean Pursifull causes me to remember that the communities of law enforcement members are considered blessed according to God’s Word because of their profession and calling as instruments of peace and order.
I am humbled in service and have been blessed to have had the privilege of serving as a Chaplain for several law enforcement agencies, emergency services departments and organizations through my life and ministry. At Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary I participated in trainings sessions about crisis management, seminars about the call to law enforcement and emergency services chaplainry, and participated in special outreach events with Bill Glass Prison Ministries, but there is nothing that really prepares you for the type of call Bell County received on Thursday, January 11, 2008.
Deputy Sean Pursifull’s death and ultimate sacrifice on that Thursday night was one he had mentally and emotionally considered having been a police officer and deputy for several years. His training in the Kentucky Justice Department Academy dealt with the call to service. He was aware of the price many had paid in service to their communities. Sean believed his talents and energy would best serve Bell County through his career choice and he was right. Thinking about death is not something that you prepare for in a single day, but rather it is something that you prepare for little by little, day after day. Our individual level of comfort and adjustments to such thoughts of duty brings us to places of honor by the way we live our lives and depart this life in front of others.
The passing of Sean Pursifull in the line of duty, at the age of 31, adds his name and service to a list of others who have also paid the ultimate sacrifice in Bell County. Since 1890, a total of nine officers have been killed in the line of duty from the Pineville Police Department and the Bell County Sheriff Department.
The Tri-County also shares in this list of fallen heroes that God’s Word calls “blessed” because they are peace makers. We should take time to remember all those deputies and police officers and we should strive to never forget to mark and dedicate the call of their service to duty as law enforcement officers. Bell County’s loss should cause us here in the Tri-County to properly remember and honor our list of fallen heroes. It is appropriate during this hour for us take time to focus and consider our responsibility to say thanks to the extended family members of those who gave their all for us years ago in the line of duty.
To properly do so it may be that we need to acknowledge our thanks to a child of one of our “blessed”. It may well be that we are friends with a grandchild or great-grandchild of one of those that gave their all in the line of duty. While we may have never known the fallen, we can still honor them by saying thanks to their families that we do know. Consider our “fallen heroes” here in the Tri-County area:

Knox County:
Charles West, age 42, Jailer, Line of Duty, Friday November 23, 1923;
Barbourville:
James C Smith, age 43, Chief, Line of Duty, Friday, July 20, 1962;
Corbin:
Charlie W. Howard, Policeman, Line of Duty, Friday June 30, 1933;
Glenn Scalf, Police Officer, Line of Duty, Tuesday, July 1, 1941;
Whitley:
Elvin Patrick, Sheriff, Line of Duty, Saturday, January 17, 1959;
Laurel:
William Harrison Reams, Deputy, Line of Duty, Friday, November 24, 1854;
Fred B Mason, age 44, Sheriff, Line of Duty, Monday, August 3, 1936

At the memorial service honoring this latest fallen Kentucky hero, the Tri-County communities can be humbled by the services tendered by our local law enforcement. There was representation by the Knox, Whitley and Laurel Sheriff Departments. Officers from the Corbin, Barbourville, London and Williamsburg Police Departments also participated. There was a heightened sense of duty and honor at the services because 550 different agencies, departments and organizations chose to attend the services. Their participation brought dignity, respect and representation of brotherhood to the memorial service. While honoring fallen heroes, we give thanks that the London Police Department and the Williamsburg Police Departments have never had such an experience within their departments.


God’s Word is clear, “Blessed are the Peace Makers” of which we still have driving the streets of our cities and county roads. “Blessed are the Peace Makers” of which we still have directing traffic, working accidents, writing reports, serving papers, answering calls, and assisting motorist broken down along our road ways. “Blessed are the Peace Makers” of which we still have working behind the scenes, undercover, in covert operations, without any recognition or notice. “Blessed are the Peace Makers” who have careers in Law Enforcement and who have never experienced such heartache and woe. “Blessed are the Peace Makers” because God’s word says, “for they shall be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:9
The work continues and the willingness to pay the ultimate sacrifice should remind all of us to thank those families who paid such a cost for our liberty and protection. Follow the Bible in her instructions to “give honor and respect to whom it is due”. Remembering the heroes and servants of days past is very important. Honoring those among us today is even more important.

Until then