The Shadow
Alleghany County Sheriff Kevin Hall led the dedication ceremony of the specially designed metal bench that honors fallen officer Caleb D. Ogilvie, who was fatally shot in the line of duty on March 14, 2022.
The message on the bench reveals, “In Memory of Caleb D. Ogilvie Covington Police Department Lost in Service 3-14-2022.”
The bench also displays a field of 50 stars, each star cut into a metal plate that represents “Old Glory.”
The City of Covington has placed two pots of flowers at each end of the bench that sits in front for the Alleghany County Jail on Main Street.
Caleb’s widow, Natasha Ogilvie, was present at the dedication with her two young daughters by her side, Emersyn and Wrenley.
After Sheriff Hall spoke to those gathered, he initiated the unveiling of the memorial bench and invited Natasha and her daughters to be the first to sit on the bench.
As for the way she felt after brushing back tears, she remarked, “I’m just really grateful to the community and its support.”
Sheriff Hall noted that Caleb was the first police officer to be killed in the line of duty in the history of Covington, and he said that in the 36 and a half years that he has been in law enforcement, Caleb’s death was the first time that he has had to deal with the loss of an officer of the law.
Hall said, “He was part of our family, and his death has touched lives throughout the community.”
Acting Covington City Manager Allen Dressler consoled Natasha and her children as they sat on the bench after Covington Chief of Police Chris Smith assisted in its unveiling while the City of Covington’s Mayor Tom Sibold observed.
