AUBURN — The Police Department will hold a formal rededication ceremony for the Auburn Police Fallen Officers’ Memorial at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 15, at 60 Court St., directly across from Auburn Hall.
The memorial, which was recently moved from 1 Minot Ave., is dedicated to Officer Rodney “Rocky” Bonney and Officer Norman Philbrick, who died in the line of duty.
Officer Norman Philbrick died July 7, 1949. He was directing traffic at a structure fire in Auburn when two firetrucks crashed. According to police archives, the force of the crash was so great that the handgun Philbrick was wearing was bent to a nearly 90-degree angle.
That gun is mounted on a plaque in the lobby of the Police Department in Philbrick’s memory.
Officer Bonney, a native of Waterford, died April 6, 1981. He drowned in the Androscoggin River as he attempted to rescue a teenage boy who had fallen in the river while walking along the railroad trestle.
Bonney Park was named in his honor.
The families of both officers are planning to attend Tuesday’s memorial service.
Gov. Paul LePage has directed that United States and Maine flags be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset Tuesday in honor of Police Officers Memorial Day.
Police Week will be observed from Tuesday until next Monday, May 21.
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