Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012
WAYNESBORO, Ga. -- The Waynesboro community is mourning the loss of a reserve police officer who was killed in a car accident Wednesday.
Deputies say 56-year-old Raymond Bosher pulled into the path of a logging truck on Highway 24 near Drone Road and collided with it. Bosher died at the scene.
He was a farmer, grandfather and humanitarian. Bosher, known as Mr. Ray' wore many hats during his lifetime, but his friends say he took the most pride in fighting crime.
"He's part of the reason our crime is down. He's part of the reason our citizens are safer," said Chief Alfonozo Williams as he flipped through department photos. "His generosity and his benevolence is to be envied by all. He was just a great guy."
As a reserve officer in charge of Waynesboro's Citizens on Patrol program, Mr. Ray made his mark in town driving around a white police transport van.
Assistant Chief Roosevelt Lodge said he had the "eyes of a hawk."
"He's the guy that drove around the white police van and always caught people," he said.
Major Mary Bennett said he liked the van more than the COP car.
"Because he said, 'That cop car is not made for people like me,'" she laughed, motioning a round stomach. "But the van -- that's a perfect fit. He loved that van, loved his van."
Bennett printed a certificate of appreciation just this week to give Bosher at their next staff meeting. Sadly, after the accident, she'll never be able to give it to him.
The department is now left with only memories of Bosher's service.
"He is a police man's police man. If there was blue in your blood -- he bled it. A true blue blood," he said.
Bosher served in the U.S. military, then at various law enforcement agencies near Charleston. He finished his career as chief of police in Springfield, S.C.
But even in retirement, Mr. Ray was always on duty.
"He patrolled the streets and called in any suspicious activity or behavior," Williams said.
One time, Williams added, the department was in crunch and couldn't afford ammunition for officer training. He says Mr. Ray bought all the ammunition himself so they could keep up their skills. Nearly everyone at the department had similar stories of generosity and service.
While Bosher was not killed in the line of duty, his death still hits hard for the local law enforcement community, especially in light of other officers killed in recent months.
He will be missed by many.
"I'll tell you, he just did so many things for Waynesboro Police Department, the Fire Department and Sheriff's Office -- and the local EMA. We're going to truly miss him," Bennett said.
Bosher's funeral arrangements are set. The viewing will be Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Joiner-Anderson-Saxon-Prescott Funeral Home on 6th Street in Waynesboro. The funeral is Saturday at 2 p.m.
Copyright WRDW-TV News 12. All rights reserved. This material may not be republished without express written permission.
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