05/14/2026
Fallen Officers, Including Lt. Cliff Rouse, Honored at Annual Memorial Ceremony
Dougherty County Police Officers joined The Albany Police Department and other law enforcement agencies in honoring fallen officers during the 2026 Annual Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony.
Lieutenant Cliff Rouse, 39, served 18 years with the Dougherty County Police Department. He was fatally shot while responding to an armed robbery at a convenience store on Sylvester Road. His legacy of service and dedication was among those solemnly recognized during the ceremony.
The keynote address was delivered by Albany State University President Dr. Robert Scott, who reflected on the courage, commitment and sacrifice of those honored.
“We gather today in a spirit that is both heavy and sacred,” Scott said. “It is sacred because we are here to remember lives of uncommon courage, uncommon commitment and uncommon sacrifice.”
Scott emphasized that the officers being honored should be remembered not only for their final moments, but for the lives they lived and the impact they made.
“They were not only officers,” he said. “They were mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, friends and neighbors. Their lives were filled with hope, purpose and love.”
He also spoke to the deeper calling that drives individuals to serve in law enforcement.
“They stepped into uncertainty not because it was easy, but because they believed in something greater than themselves,” Scott said. “They believed in protecting others. They believed their presence could make a difference—and they were right.”
The ceremony served as both a time of reflection and a call to action for the community to honor the legacy of fallen officers through continued service, unity and support.
“The strongest tribute we can offer is not only one of remembrance, but one of continuation,” Scott said. “We continue their commitment, their sense of duty and their belief that what we do for others matters.”
As names were remembered and lives honored, the ceremony underscored the enduring impact of those who served, and the responsibility shared by the community to carry their legacy forward.
