In the fall of 1977, Monroe, Georgia suffered a line-of-duty death that remains part of the department’s history. Michael Everette Etchison Sr., 26, a five-year veteran lieutenant with the Monroe Police Department, was on patrol when he and a partner responded to reports of a reckless driver. The pursuit of the suspect, identified as Jimmy League, ran along Georgia State Highway 11 and led to a roadblock about five miles south of Monroe.

At the roadblock the suspect shot and wounded a deputy, but the chase continued roughly another mile until a tire blew out. League exited his vehicle and opened fire on the officers. In the resulting exchange, Lieutenant Etchison was struck in the head by a rifle wound and died instantly. An officer who was shot in both legs returned fire and killed League at the scene. Etchison remains the only Monroe Police Department officer killed in the line of duty. Did anyone in the community have contact with Etchison or remember that incident?