When Bill Truax and his wife, Becky, moved from Northern Virginia to James City County in 2007, they wanted to get involved in the community.
For Truax, a 73-year-old Vietnam veteran, the answer was the James City County Citizen’s Police Academy. During the 14-week course, Truax and his wife learned the ins and outs of local law enforcement, and they developed a deep respect for James City County’s officers and their work.
For the last five years, the Truaxes have volunteered with local law enforcement through Volunteers in Police Service — but now Truax wants to do more for one officer who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
Truax is pressing local officials to name a bridge, overpass or road — where many officers spend a majority of their time — after Sgt. Earl Marlin Heisler, the only James City County officer to lose his life in the line of duty.
“Working with the police officers, we’re there when those radios go off and they’re called out,” Truax said. “We know they’re always on the line and in danger.”
The proposal
In early April, Truax sent a proposal for a resolution to both the James City County Board of Supervisors and the Williamsburg City Council.
The proposal advocates for a resolution “to memorialize the life of Sergeant Earl Heisler” by erecting a memorial road sign.
Heisler, 37, was shot and killed on Sept. 19, 1978 while checking on a suspicious vehicle with three people inside behind the now-closed Ramada Inn West on Richmond Road, according to information on the Officer Down Memorial Page. He was investigating a series of recent burglaries at the nearby Stratford Hall Apartments, located on Stratford Road near the intersection of Airport and Richmond roads.
As Heisler was searching the car after seeing a bag of marijuana on the back seat, the driver, Ronald Thatcher, grabbed Heisler’s gun and shot him in the face.
In May, a local pastor rode his motorcycle across the country in honor of Heisler, raising money for a law enforcement nonprofit along the way.
Truax said he is not picky about whether the memorial is in the city or county, but he suggested the section of U.S. 60 near the Stratford Hall Apartments, near where Heisler was shot, would be a good fit.
“Due to the history and relationship of the two law enforcement departments and their jurisdictions, it is appropriate that a joint resolution honoring Sergeant Heisler be considered,” Truax wrote in a cover letter to the elected officials, county administrator and city administrator. “I hope that you agree that this is a long over due tribute.”
County and city action
Local officials are considering Truax’s request.
James City County Interim Administrator Bill Porter said county officials are working with the police department to identify a section of a county road that could be named after Heisler.
There is already a memorial for Heisler at the James City County Law Enforcement Center at 4600 Opportunity Way.
“The memorial over there is certainly something the citizens of the county or city aren’t going to see all the time,” Truax said.
Porter added that the Board of Supervisors will take action on road naming in a board meeting later this summer.
Truax said he had received responses from several officials supporting his proposal.
Williamsburg spokeswoman Lee Ann Hartmann said city offices had no record of receiving a proposal from Truax, but she said Mayor Paul Freiling responded to an email from Board of Supervisors Chair Ruth Larson by stating the city would be happy to support “any effort by the county.”
So, what does it take to name a road after someone?
The Code of Virginia lays out a multistep process for naming VDOT-maintained roadways, which includes most roads in James City County.
First, a locality must designate the area they want to name after a person, then vote on and pass a resolution requesting the name change.
Once approved, the locality takes the resolution to the VDOT local residency maintenance manager, who begins the approval process through VDOT. The name change then goes on to the Commonwealth Transportation Board agenda for approval.
VDOT spokeswoman Brittany McBride Nichols said once the name change is approved, VDOT will create and erect the new signage.
In the city, Hartmann said there is no policy in place for naming streets, bridges or overpasses, adding that she believed the process of naming a city-maintained road would go through a city resolution, or through the Virginia General Assembly.
Hartmann added that it’s much easier for the City Council to name something owned by the city, such as a building or a hiking or biking trail.
For example, the Tuttle Trail in the city is named for former City Manager Jack Tuttle, she said.
Truax said he hopes to see a fitting memorial for Heisler in the upcoming years.
“To me, there just needs to be something more,” he said.
Fearing can be reached at [email protected].
