Oxford Eagle, Thursday, April 17, 2008
Over 1,000 attend funeral for slain YCSD Detective
Tatum remembered as dedicated officer and good man
By KELLY SHACKLETON
Eagle Staff Writer
A funeral service with full honors was held Monday afternoon for Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Detective Charles Tatum. Family, friends, co-workers and law enforcement officers from across the state and region attended the funeral and many accompanied the funeral procession from Oxford to Tatum's hometown of Guin, AL for the graveside service and burial.
"The procession itself was about two miles long and that was for the entire 115-mile drive to Guin," said Yoknapatawpha Memorial Funeral Home director Edgar Tarpley. "Around 1,200 people attended the service in Oxford and maybe half of those were law enforcement officers."
Every member of the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department who was not on essential duty during the time of the funeral service was in attendance.
"We are all completely devastated," said YCSD Sgt. Steven Spearman. "I still can't believe he's gone. Charlie was a mainstay of this department. He was an inspiration and a role model to so many of us. It'll never be the same without him."
Death investigation ongoing
Tatum, 51, was found dead in his residence on Sunday, April 6, 2008. Initially, his death was believed to be a suicide, but autopsy findings changed that opinion and the death is being investigated as a homicide.
The Sheriff's Department is not releasing many details about Tatum's death, which was the result of a close contact gunshot wound to the head. Sheriff Taylor Sheldon has repeatedly declined to comment on whether investigators have identified any suspects or developed any promising leads.
"The department is investigating this case 24-7," Sheldon said. "One of our own has been brutally and callously murdered and we will not rest until his killer or killers are brought to justice."
Officers, community in mourning
Reverend Leroy Minter, an officiator at Sunday's service, said Tatum attended worship services regularly but nothing superceded his commitment to law enforcement.
"Charlie was devoted to the Lord, and he was wholly dedicated to his job protecting and serving the people of this county, " Minter said during the service. "With every call he answered from a citizen who needed help of any kind, he was answering the greater call we all receive to be our brother's keeper, to love our neighbors as ourselves."
St. Peter's Episcopal Church was crowded with mourners, filling the main sanctuary and overflowing into the lobby and even spilling out onto the lawn of the church. In addition to the numerous members of the law enforcement community who were present, many Oxford civilians were also in attendance, some of whom had only a passing acquaintance with Tatum.
"I used to see a lot of Charlie a few years ago. Back when he was still in uniform, he used to drop in all the time for some barbecue," said Carl Dixon, owner of Home Plate restaurant. "We were all really happy for him when he made detective, but we didn't get to see him as much after that. We never would have guessed his time on this earth would be so short. He surely will be missed."
"I didn't really know the man myself, but I just think it's wrong for anyone to kill a police officer," said Corinna Morgan, a local secretary. "Especially with the way things are in this country these days, we don't need to be killing the people who are trying to protect us."
"Charlie was a good man, the best. He had a real good heart. He wanted to make the world a little safer for the little guy," said District Attorney Jake Hood. "He took a hard line with anyone who violated the law. No question. But he never lost sight of the human factor -- both criminal and victim -- in the crime. You can never have enough cops like Charles Tatum. And now, tragically, we have one less." |
