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Film in honor of officer viewed
Published October 15, 2006
MONROE — The red carpet rolled out in Monroe on Wednesday as the Monroe Police Department and Monroe Utilities Network premiered “In the Line of Duty: The Michael Etchison Story” memorializing the slain lieutenant.
With members of the MPD, local politicians and Etchison’s family at the event held at the Great Oaks retirement home 29 years to the day of Etchison’s death, the films’ producer/director Phil Lanier and his cast and crew presented their documentary on the life and death of Monroe’s only police officer to die in the course of their job.
“A lot went into doing this,” said Monroe Police Chief Keith Glass said. “We made movie stars out of Hubbard and the rest of these guys.”
Presenting plaques to MUN camera operator/co-producer David Little, Lanier and former police chief — and Etchison’s partner on the day he died, — Mike Head, Glass was appreciative of their efforts on preserving the memories of the event on film.
“Thank you so much for what you have done,” Glass said. “Oct. 11, 1977 needs to live in our hearts for all time. We need to make sure we never forget. It is a part of our history in Monroe that affects us all.”
Head, who served as technical advisor for the film as well as appearing as an interview subject in the 30 minute piece, said he was proud to be involved in remembering his former partner.
“Twenty-nine years ago today this town and this county were in mourning,” Head said. “We’d lost a great police officer in the Monroe department.
After Head spoke, Lanier introduced the film before screening it before the audience. When the lights came up again, Emily Hunter, Etchison’s sister-in-law, spoke for Etchison’s widow, Robbie Vaughn, and the assembled family.
“Thank you,” Hunter said. “It was very good. From the bottom of our hearts, we are grateful. For so many years it wasn’t talked about, it wasn’t celebrated, it wasn’t remembered,” Hunter said. “You brought it back with honor. Proper due was paid to a fallen officer.”
The film will be shown on MUN’s local Channel 16.
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