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RALEIGH – An effort to name a local bridge in memory of a Hertford County Sheriff’s Deputy killed in the line of duty took a giant step forward here last week.

At their Feb. 6 meeting in Raleigh, the North Carolina Board of Transportation approved the naming of the bridge on U.S. 13 South over the intersection of N.C. 45 South and U.S. 158 West in Hertford County as the Deputy

Paul Futrell Bridge.

The state board’s approval also included a resolution that made the naming of the bridge official. That document was signed by Michael S. Fox, chairman of the Transportation Board, and J.R. “Joey” Hopkins who serves as the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

On Sept. 18, 1992, Futrell became the first Hertford County Deputy Sheriff to lose his life in the line of duty. On that day he responded to a domestic call near Cofield where he was in the process of assisting a citizen take custody of a child. A man exited the house and shot and killed Deputy Futrell.

Dexter Hayes, the current Sheriff of Hertford County, and his Chief Deputy Brian Pearce attended the Transportation Board’s meeting last week and were presented with the official documentation.

“My goal throughout this process was to ensure we did something meaningful to let the family and citizens know that we will never forget Deputy Paul Futrell,” Sheriff Hayes said. “This was a slow and meticulous journey, but it was well worth it. We had to secure letters of support, go through an application process, and obtain approval from the Hertford County Board of Commissioners, all while continuing to manage the day-to-day operations of the Sheriff’s Office.”

Hayes said during this process he gained valuable knowledge about Deputy Futrell’s family – his sisters, brother, and children.

“I heard stories about his life, how much he loved his family, and how he often played pranks on his sister while he was on duty. Today, I am proud to say that we have fulfilled a long-held dream: the dedication of this bridge to Deputy Paul Futrell, End of Watch: September 16, 1992,” Hayes said.

The signs will be erected in the near future.

As noted by Hayes, part of the process was to gain the approval of the Hertford County Board of Commissioners. They did so at a meeting in August of last year at which time they also committed $2,000 to pay for the signs.

The commissioners also adopted a resolution, which read, in part: “Deputy Sheriff Paul Futrell served the Hertford County community with unwavering dedication and courage throughout his career with the Hertford County Sheriff’s Department; and Deputy Sheriff Futrell’s selfless acts of bravery and service embody the highest ideals of law enforcement, inspiring countless others to follow in his footsteps.”

News-Herald archives show that Futrell, age 36 at the time of his death, had served his country with the United States Marines. The Murfreesboro native then obtained his Basic Law Enforcement Training certificate and gained employment in 1990 with the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office.

He was married and the father of one daughter and one son.