Petition seeks bridge memorial for Sgt. Earl Murray

Dare County commissioners unanimously passed a resolution Monday asking state officials to name the second bridge on Colington Road in honor of Sgt. Earl Murray, Jr., the Nags Head police officer who died in May of 2009 while responding to an emergency call.

The resolution asks for a NCDOT sign naming the span near the Colington Volunteer Fire Department the “Sgt. Earl Murray Memorial Bridge.”

Commissioners voted on the resolution Monday after Dare County Sheriff’s Deputy David Bryan presented the board earlier this month with a petition asking for the memorial. The petition contained more than 1, 734 signatures of residents and visitors.

Bryan told commissioners the signatures were gathered from petitions put at various business locations in the county during the winter months.

Murray was responding to a burglary in progress during the early morning hours when his patrol car went out of control during heavy rain and struck a utility pole.

The state Department of Transportation will now review the resolution to ensure that it meets state criteria for road and bridge memorials, according to NCDOT District Engineer Jerry Jennings.

Next, Jennings said, the request would be forwarded to the state Board of Transportation for consideration. That board, he said, would make the ultimate decision. The process could take at least 60 days, Jennings added. The transportation board meets once a month and the resolution would be introduced initially during a meeting and then voted on the next month.

To meet the state’s criteria, a request to name a bridge or road must include resolutions from all governing bodies associated with the request. It must also illustrate strong public input and support.

Murray worked for the Nags Head Police Department for 12 years and had served in law enforcement for 26 years.

According to the resolution, Murray moved to Dare County in 1983 to begin his law enforcement career. He served with the Kill Devil Hills Police Department, the Dare County Sheriff’s Office and the Nags Head Police Department. He received numerous awards during his career and was known as a compassionate and dedicated officer.

He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

---