Forced to Cope Following Conway Officer's Death
By: Josh Berry
Updated: February 2, 2013
A family of officers is mourning the loss of one of their own this weekend after a Conway police officer died in the line of duty.
The death of 26 year old Conway Officer, Will McGary, has hit hard for everyone that knew him especially the family of relatives and family of Conway's finest.
The last Conway police officer killed in the line of duty was Mandy Noblitt Hall's father.
"This is the first officer they've lost in the last 24 years," she said. "I was in the sixth grade when my dad was killed."
Her dad, Officer Ray Noblitt was killed by another man in 1988.
"It's not been forgotten and it's not been let go."
Friday's (2/1) passing of Conway Officer Will McGary takes her back to that day.
Saturday, Conway police officers, including Chief AJ Gary, with black ribbons in hand had to deal with the reality of losing another after such a long time.
"I've heard several times that 'this makes me go back to that'," said Latresha Woodruff with the Conway Police Department. "Walking passed it today I kinda felt a little heart-broken because at some point we're going to add ... Officer William Michael McGary to that."
The officers alongside the McGary family are forced to cope much like Noblitt, who now has two kids of her own, had to 24 years ago.
Even from someone that's been through it before though, it's hard to find just the right words of encouragement.
"It's just heart breaking to know that..." Hall struggled. "I don't know I just wish it was easier to put into words."
Remembering what it was like knowing her father died at the hands of someone else, Hall hopes justice prevails for the McGary family.
"So I pray for their sake that it's just quick and painless for justice to be served," she said. "They need to be able to move on."
The Conway Police Department says they have the support of hundreds of agencies as far away as Mississippi offering help through the weeks ahead.
The death of 26 year old Conway Officer, Will McGary, has hit hard for everyone that knew him especially the family of relatives and family of Conway's finest.
The last Conway police officer killed in the line of duty was Mandy Noblitt Hall's father.
"This is the first officer they've lost in the last 24 years," she said. "I was in the sixth grade when my dad was killed."
Her dad, Officer Ray Noblitt was killed by another man in 1988.
"It's not been forgotten and it's not been let go."
Friday's (2/1) passing of Conway Officer Will McGary takes her back to that day.
Saturday, Conway police officers, including Chief AJ Gary, with black ribbons in hand had to deal with the reality of losing another after such a long time.
"I've heard several times that 'this makes me go back to that'," said Latresha Woodruff with the Conway Police Department. "Walking passed it today I kinda felt a little heart-broken because at some point we're going to add ... Officer William Michael McGary to that."
The officers alongside the McGary family are forced to cope much like Noblitt, who now has two kids of her own, had to 24 years ago.
Even from someone that's been through it before though, it's hard to find just the right words of encouragement.
"It's just heart breaking to know that..." Hall struggled. "I don't know I just wish it was easier to put into words."
Remembering what it was like knowing her father died at the hands of someone else, Hall hopes justice prevails for the McGary family.
"So I pray for their sake that it's just quick and painless for justice to be served," she said. "They need to be able to move on."
The Conway Police Department says they have the support of hundreds of agencies as far away as Mississippi offering help through the weeks ahead.
