HIGH POINT N.C. — High Point Police Chief Travis Stroud always knew that protecting and serving was his calling.

“Right now, to be a police officer, you have to really want to be a police officer,” Stroud said.

What You Need To Know

  • Wednesday marked the end of National Police Week, but the High Point Police Department follows that with Fallen Officers Memorial Week

  • Officer Shelia Twyman was killed in the line of duty in 2001 due to injuries she suffered from a crash in her patrol car

  • Chief Travis Stroud was a rookie on the force when he first met Twyman

He has been on the force since 1995, where he met Officer Shelia Twyman. 

“So Shelia was just the opposite. She was much more motherly and caring, cordial with me and everybody else, it didn't matter who you interacted with. I mean, it was sort of a breath of fresh air coming down the hall because she’s always so nice and so upbeat,” Stroud said.

Twyman was killed when a driver ran a red light and struck her patrol vehicle.

Stroud remembers her often and especially during National Police Week and the High Point Police Department's Fallen Officers Memorial Week.

“Preserving the names of our fallen — that’s what today is all about and pretty much what all week is about,” Stroud said.

“She was on regular patrol and she was going down Centennial and a vehicle ran the light at Centennial and Russell and broadsided her patrol vehicle, pushing her across the street into a parking lot over there," Stroud said. "The impact was pretty brutal on her. A lot of blunt force trauma. I think she passed away three days later. We run right through there as a part of this route."

The High Point remembrance includes a walk and run memorial to honor officers' last few minutes of duty.

“We really want to memorialize and recognize officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. That’s your ultimate sacrifice you’re going to have out here. These folks have paved the way for us to do this job, I mean they gave up everything to the commitment and safety of this community," Stroud said.

They are celebrating those who gave it all to protect and serve.

“It’s easy to forget about the ones before us and you just think what’s ahead of you, so you’ve got to remember, too,” Stroud said.