Madison County residents are mourning the death of an Athens-Clarke County police officer shot in the line of duty Tuesday afternoon.
Elmer “Buddy” Christian, in his mid 30s, was a resident of Madison County and lived with his family on Griffeth Road, off Moon’s Grove Road. He attended county schools and graduated from Madison County High School. Sheriff Kip Thomas was a schoolmate, according to chief deputy Shawn Burns.
Burns said all county officers were called in to duty Tuesday afternoon to monitor the situation in case the suspect, Jamie Hood, 33, of Athens, tried to head into the county.
Elmer "Buddy" Christian
Slain Athens officer was Madison Co. resident
Trackbacks
Trackback specific URI for this entry
No Trackbacks
Comments
Display comments as
(Linear | Threaded)
#1
anon
on
03/23/11 at 09:34 AM
[Reply]
This is a sad sad day ! Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this tragic time. My prayer is for the safety of all of our officers that each one come home every night to their families !
#2
Virginia Moss
on
03/23/11 at 09:55 AM
[Reply]
I didn't know Officer Christian, but this makes my heart cry and my mind angry. This man accepted his job to protect the rest of us knowing the dangers. Here, in the prime of his life and with family needing him, he is taken away forever by one of a constantly growing population of total scum. We just do not pay these people anywhere near what they are worth! I sincerely hope his family recovers from this loss; my thoughts are with them.
#3
Anonymous
on
03/23/11 at 01:26 PM
[Reply]
Anyone still think we don't need gun control? How many more good folks must die?
#3.1
msales
on
03/23/11 at 07:20 PM
[Reply]
I am not anonymous and just the opposite is true if you will research the statistics from the justice department. More people have stopped crime with using a gun than have committed a crime with one. I wish I had been in the area with my gun when this lowlife Hood shot the first officer. Buddy would be alive today. Both officers are good friends and great officers. No apology.
#3.2
E.J.
on
03/23/11 at 07:50 PM
[Reply]
I know how you feel. Unfortunately, gun control won't ever take the gun out of the possession of the criminal. I doubt very seriously this excuse-for-a-human-being got his gun the proper way, given his prison record. Like our Prohibition experiment, it only drives the illegal stuff underground and into the criminal element. We just have to figure out how to live with it as best we can.
#3.3
NRAMemeber
on
03/23/11 at 07:53 PM
[Reply]
We have gun control. We just need to tighten up and enforce the ones already in place. I imagine you also blame forks and spoons for making people fat???
#4
Boxer
on
03/23/11 at 09:50 PM
[Reply]
This story is like a funeral announcement. Let's offer our prayers and condolences to the family of this homeward bound man and leave the gun control comments for another time. This certainly not the time or place to discuss anything but our collective sadness.
#4.1
Anonymous
on
03/24/11 at 08:10 AM
[Reply]
I am so glad u said that Boxer. I didnt know him, but my husband is a police officer also and when I heard that day I was so scared, but even after learning my husband was safe, the incredible sadness that I felt for this wife and children were overwhelming. Anyone with ANY shred of decency would know that and leave the gun control debate and other comments alone for now. God Bless Mr. Christians family and I would like to thank him and all of the officers for their hard work and devotion. They do not make alot of money, they do this job because they believe in whats right. And to Tony, we love you, proud of you, and praying for a speedy recovery!
#5
Reader
on
03/24/11 at 06:40 PM
[Reply]
If everyone had to spend a few weeks in law enforcement we would have a different world. Above everything we need to live by the Word of God. Then we would not need law enforcement. But, they don't and we do! What wasteless hours are spent on the ridiculous things. And our law enforcement has to deal with it every day. Go and work for a while in law enforcement, I guarantee you will have a new opinion on some things, and probably shape up your own life a little too. It's CRAZY! People need to grow up & get a life!!!! These officers were good men, not slouches, not mean people, they were GOOD MEN! THIS IS SO VERY SAD! I thank God for men like this who will stand to try to keep us safe. I thank this family for such a man, he was raised right! I can't say how sorry I am for these people. I can't thank you enough for what you have given and for what he did, the highest price he paid.
#5.1
E.J.
on
03/25/11 at 11:05 AM
[Reply]
Please don't forget that there are plenty of dedicated, smart and courageous WOMEN doing all this as well. They all deserve our support and appreciation.
#6
GK
on
03/24/11 at 07:46 PM
[Reply]
I weep for the family of Buddy.
#6.1
ken white
on
03/25/11 at 06:01 PM
[Reply]
R.I.P. Elmer "Buddy" Christian, god is taking you home."Follow me my son the savior, he will pay for his behavior, for you have performed a job well done" My prayers are with both families.