Bel Air town officials earlier this week honored three people for their efforts in helping the town and its police remember a town officer who was killed in the line of duty 96 years ago. Three current police officers also were recognized for their efforts in DUI enforcement.
The Board of Town Commissioners presented proclamations Monday night to Michael Dixon, an adjunct college professor and history researcher; William Gunther, a police auxiliary captain who owns a local bus company; and Maryland State Police Lt. Timothy Mullin, the Bel Air Barrack commander.
Dixon was honored for bringing to light the story of George Oliver Noonan, the town bailiff – or constable – who died from injuries suffered in a scuffle with a man in downtown Bel Air on June 29, 1920. The officer's death became largely forgotten until two years ago when Dixon, who lives in Elkton, found an old newspaper article "by accident" that reported the death and in turn began looking into the officer's life and the circumstances of his demise.
Prior to Dixon's research, there were at the time no memorials or other public recognitions for Officer Noonan, who is buried in a country cemetery in Whiteford. A few descendants didn't even know he had died in the line of duty as a police officer. Because of Dixon's research, the town and county law enforcement agencies have taken steps to recognize the officer.
The town police have installed a monument to Officer Noonan, and his memory was honored at both the annual Fallen Heroes Day ceremony in Timonium last spring and at the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Most of the Bel Air Police Department's members attended the latter observance on a bus provided free of charge by Gunther's company. State troopers, under Mullin's command, patrolled Bel Air for 24 hours on May 13-14, during the Washington, D.C., event.
The town recognized Dixon "for his invaluable and passionate research which has resulted in the long-overdue fulfillment of recognition for fallen Officer George Oliver Noonan," according to his proclamation.
Gunther Bus Service was recognized for being "instrumental in the success of the trip" to Washington "to properly honor their fallen officer," and Mullin and his troopers were commended for "passionately and effectively" policing the town during the town officers absence.
Certificates of recognition were presented to BAPD Sgt. Robert E. Pfarr, Cpl. Matthew Gullion and Officer Alexander J. Maro for finishing among top ranking officers in DUI arrests. Maro had 16, Gullion eight and Pfarr six.