It was a year ago when Watauga County Deputy Sheriff William Mast was shot and killed as he responded to a 911 call for service in Deep Gap, North Carolina. Nearly the same time 29 firefighters from both the North & South Carolina completed the inaugural Carolina Brotherhood ride covering 400 miles to honor Asheville Fire Capt Jeff Bowen who also lost his life serving his community. This year’s Carolina Brotherhood ride, which will include 6 riders from the Asheville Fire Department, will start in Rocky Mount, NC on August 10th, travel through South Carolina, ending 7 days later on August 17th in Boone, NC covering over 700 miles. This year’s ride is dedicated to the 6 peace officers from North and South Carolina that gave the ultimate sacrifice last year.
Bobby Gene Demuth, Jr. – Trooper, North Carolina Highway Patrol, North Carolina
Jeremiah M. Goodson, Jr. – Master Police Officer, Lumberton Police Department, North Carolina
Dewayne Charles Hester – Deputy Sheriff, Bladen County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina
William Mast, Jr. – Deputy Sheriff, Watauga County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina
Sandra E. “Sandy” Rogers – Master Corporal, Aiken Department of Public Safety, SC
Randall “Shane” Thomas – Detective, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina