The N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is close to finishing a significant project aimed at honoring state troopers who paid the ultimate price but were not previously commemorated. According to a recent release by the NCDOT, 23 bridges across the state are being named after troopers who died in the line of duty and had somehow been missed in earlier tributes. This initiative is the result of a collaboration between NCDOT and the N.C. State Highway Patrol, which was sparked by the realization that these officers had not been duly honored.
Transportation Secretary Joey Hopkins, addressing the N.C. Board of Transportation, underscored the state's long-standing tradition of naming bridges after law enforcement officers who died on duty, adding, "But for many different reasons, 23 officers were never honored." It was during that update when Hopkins shared the department's expectation of completing the bridge dedications for all 23 troopers by the end of 2025. As it turned out, finding the family members of these troopers, several of whom had passed away decades ago, made it a difficult task. Like Patrolman Isaac T. Moore, who, since being killed in 1937, for so long remained without a bridge in his name, as noted by the NCDOT.
The determination to right this historical oversight was propelled by State Highway Patrol commander Col. Freddy Johnson. After hearing from family members of the unmemorialized troopers, Johnson felt compelled to act. "We felt that it was very important to get everyone recognized for the sacrifice that they made," Johnson told NCDOT. The value of the project was echoed in the words of family members who experienced a form of renewed acknowledgment from the community through this gesture.
NCDOT has been diligently working through the list, with only seven bridge dedications left to be officially named since the start of this endeavor in the spring of 2024. NCDOT’s Shelly Heath, who liaises with the Road and Bridge Naming Committee, and her supervisor, State Traffic Engineer Brian Mayhew, have been instrumental in the efforts. According to Heath, each naming involved extensive research and outreach to ensure each fallen officer’s story was properly verified and that there was robust local support for the dedication.
One such narrative included Trooper Jackie Daniel, who lost his life in 1994 while assisting a stranded motorist. For years, Daniel's sacrifice remained unrecognized, at least in the form of bridge dedications. It wasn't until his daughter, Ashlyn LaTurno, learned that such honors existed did the prospect of commemorating her father in this way become a reality. "It means that when people see his name, they’ll know he was such a great man that served his community and would do anything for him," LaTurno reflected on the significance of the tribute, as shared with NCDOT.
