Beyond the Call of Duty Ride Stops in Carnesville to Remember Deputy Bill Garner

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR

A rainy Monday morning could not stop the family and fellow officers from the Franklin County Sheriff’s office from coming out to honor the life and memory of Deputy William “Bill” Garner.

Members of the group, Beyond the Call of Duty – Ride to Remember arrived in Carnesville early Monday morning with a motorcycle escort and parked in front of the Veterans and First Responder Memorial.

Monday marked the one-year anniversary of Garner’s tragic death while working an accident on I-85.

Garner’s widow Jennifer and other family members and friends gathered around the Ride trailer that now carries Garner’s official End of Watch photo.

Franklin County Sheriff Steve Thomas was not able to attend the memorial but in a personal recorded message to Garner’s wife, he spoke about Garner’s selfless service to Franklin County.

“Today, July 19, is a very sad day for me and our law enforcement family,” Thomas said. “It is the anniversary of the death of one of our own, deputy William “Bill” Garner. On July 19, 2020, Bill was responding to a motor vehicle crash on I-85. While assisting the victim of the crash, a driver traveling southbound lost control of his vehicle, hydroplaned into the median, striking Bill Garner and taking his life. It is a day his wife Jennifer, his parents and extended family, the Franklin County Sheriff’s office, and the entire community will never forget. Our hearts and prayers will always be with Jennifer and the Garner family. While saddened by his death I will always be proud of the dedication, service to our community, and the servant spirit he brought to work with him every day. Deputy William ‘Bill’ Garner, End of Watch, July 19, 2020.”

Ride Founder Jagrut Shah is a retired law enforcement officer from Oregon who started the Ride to Remember in 2017.

Shah said the purpose of the Ride is to remember those officers who died in the line of duty across the country the year before.

“I believe that all men and women in law enforcement should be remembered and honored and not forgotten,” he explained. “And that the survivors should be reminded that their loved ones are not going to be forgotten, as well helping the survivors with additional emotional, financial and any other support that they may need.”

From Carnesville, the Ride to Remember traveled to Anderson, Greenville, South Carolina, and Hendersonville, NC on Monday.

Shah said his group began this year’s ride in Yakima, Washington on May 28 and will finish in Spokane Valley, Washington the end of August.