Honor Guard

Honor Guard 

The Etowah County Sheriff's Office Honor Guard was established to represent The Etowah County Sheriff's Office, its officers, and families at peace officers funerals, parades, and other ceremonial occasions.

The Etowah County Sheriff's Office Honor Guard personifies professionalism, respect, and strives toward perfection in presentation and display of the Colors of the State of Alabama, and the United States of America. The Etowah County Sheriff's Office strives to have Honor Guard members present at the funeral services for any peace officer killed in the line-of-duty, throughout the state of Alabama.

The Etowah County Sheriff's Office Honor Guard is a part-time unit that is comprised of members from various divisions within the department.

 Mission

The main mission is to represent The Etowah County Sheriff's Office at community events, award ceremonies, at the peace officer's memorial ceremony, and to attend funerals for officers killed in the line of duty.  

The members of the unit stand ready to pay their respects to officers that pay the ultimate price for their community. Since its establishment, Etowah County Sheriff's Office Honor Guard members have attended dozens of funerals at agencies all over the state of Alabama. They often do not know when they will be called upon for service so members of the Honor Guard must be ready to attend events at all times.

 Responsibilities

The Honor Guard Unit members can be assigned to a number of intra-unit teams with varying responsibilities:

The Color Guard: A three- to six-officer complement whose center-marching members serve as bearers of the Stars and Stripes and all secondary flags; two rifle-bearing members flank the flag-bearers.

Flag Detail: Five members (four officers addressing the American flag and a team leader) designated to fold the flag at the interment ceremony. The team leader is charged with handing-off the folded flag to the Sheriff(or designee) for presentation to the family.  

Casket Detail: The Casket Detail is responsible for standing guard over a fallen officer until laid to rest. The detail is also responsible for movement or carrying of the casket. The detail performs its duty using silent commands when posting and relieving the detail members.

The Rifle Team: Eight members (seven riflemen and a team leader), charged with the execution of three-volley during burial ceremonies. Two members will be tasked to escort the colors during parades.

Other Honor Guard ceremonial events include:

• Police Academy graduation ceremonies
• Local Law Enforcement conferences
• State and local police memorial services