This beautiful, sunny Monday can't help but be a little gloomy for Dana Moody Shriver. April 9, 1997, Shriver's fiance', Joey Rodgers, a deputy with the Florence County Sheriff's Office, was shot and killed in the line of duty.
"He was my first love and that's just something you never forget," said Shriver.
Rodgers was patrolling Alligator Road in Florence when calls came into 911 saying a man suspected of double murder had been spotted in that area.
Forensic Investigator Keith von Lutken was headed in Joey's direction.
"We were in the process of looking for a murder suspect. A murder had taken place on Alligator Road and there were two victims and we were not able to find the suspect during that time. The search continued through that night and the following morning when the next shift came on of course that was Joey's shift. Joey was in the area as the calls began coming into the Central Dispatch area, and at that time, they dispatched deputies out there. Joey of course was the first officer on the scene. Joey confronted the subject at that time and then there's an altercation and at which time Joey was shot, " explained von Lutken.
Von Lutken says the suspect then took off in Joey's patrol car. He was spotted and killed by deputies.
Shriver says every anniversary of his death is hard.
"It's still tough. You have to see deputy cars. I mean, just driving down the road, you see a deputy car and you can't help but look and think God I wish that was Joey driving that car," Shriver said.
Von Lutken says Rodgers was a dedicated officer who would have had a great career with the Florence County Sheriff's Office.
"Awesome guy. I tell you, when I think about him, he was a young guy. He was clean cut. He was just, when you looked at him you just thought of a police officer."
Since Rodgers' death, he's been remembered in so many ways: a concrete memorial outside the Florence County Sheriff's Office, a bridge on Highway 52 in Florence County, golf tournaments and college scholarships.
"I have to commend the sheriff's department because they have truly made it something that they never want to let Joey be forgotten," said Shriver.
She says Rodgers will always live in her heart.
"More than anything, when people ask me, why do you still honor him? He was my best friend and I always look at people and say well if you, if your father or mother, brother was to pass away,would you not still honor him like 15, 20 years down the road? And they're like yes. And I say, well, why shouldn't his fiance. You move on with your life, but he's always going to hold a piece of my heart," explained Shriver.
Monday night, a tribute dinner for Rodgers takes place at Fatz Cafe. Law enforcement officers from all over the state are expected to attend the dinner. Several of Rodgers co-workers and friends will speak.
Tuesday, Shriver and other officers will skydive in Rodger's memory hosted by the US Army Golden Knights.
