From the N&O, the Beltline claimed another victim when Raleigh motorcycle police officer Charles Radford Paul III died while pursuing a speeder. Witnesses said his motorcycle began to wobble as he was overtaking a truck. Witnesses also said he seemed to regain control but then hit debris, including parts of a ladder, on the shoulder of the road. Charles Paul lost his life trying to stop a reckless driver before he or she killed someone. The driver he was chasing has never been caught. He died Sept 10, 2002.
Hundreds of uniformed police officers, deputy sheriffs, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and plainclothes detectives from departments as far away as Wilmington were gathered at his funeral. It was a shock to read about it in the papers that one of our own had tragically been killed while protecting our streets. It was a tragedy to lose Charles so suddenly, especially for his wife Tiffany and their little girl and all that knew and loved him. He will always be missed.
It still is hard to believe he is gone. We kept in touch for a couple of years after graduation while both at ECU but then lost touch.....as most of us do after college/marriage/kids. In preparing for this 20 year reunion, I've been looking through our yearbook to try and remember faces and names. There are a couple of pics of me and Charles hanging out and it makes me think of him and the fact he is gone. So sad!
The last time I saw Charles I was speeding through Raleigh in the Brentwood area. The officer said my name before he got the window, and it through me off. I was prepared to be as rude as possible and it was him. Needless to say he let me go, but more than that we caught up for a second. I told him I'd heard he was on the force and he told me to keep it safe. Not slow down, just keep it safe. This was about 3 months before the accident.
Charles was one of my very first friends when I moved to North Carolina in 8th grade. We went to the fair together, out to eat pizza, and we were in chorus together. I remember walking through downtown Raleigh with him after singing at a high school graduation with our chorus group...we were lost and ended up at McDonald's. So young, we didn't realize it wasn't the best part of town to be wondering around in. All we cared about was some hot french fries!!! Great memories! The last time I saw him was a few months before he died. I hadn't seen him in years, and I was at Kanki at Crabtree Mall for my 30th birthday. I was pregnant with my second son and I ran into him right outside the restaurant. He was holding his little girl and seemed so proud of her! He got to meet my oldest son, Clayton. We hugged and went on our way. That was June 2002, and he was gone a few short months later. I drove to the church to attend the funeral, but couldn't stop crying long enough to get out of the car and walk in. I simply prayed in my car as I sat there thinking of his family. He was a sweet person and is greatly missed!
Holly Corno (Goldman)
From the N&O, the Beltline claimed another victim when Raleigh motorcycle police officer Charles Radford Paul III died while pursuing a speeder. Witnesses said his motorcycle began to wobble as he was overtaking a truck. Witnesses also said he seemed to regain control but then hit debris, including parts of a ladder, on the shoulder of the road. Charles Paul lost his life trying to stop a reckless driver before he or she killed someone. The driver he was chasing has never been caught. He died Sept 10, 2002.Hundreds of uniformed police officers, deputy sheriffs, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and plainclothes detectives from departments as far away as Wilmington were gathered at his funeral. It was a shock to read about it in the papers that one of our own had tragically been killed while protecting our streets. It was a tragedy to lose Charles so suddenly, especially for his wife Tiffany and their little girl and all that knew and loved him. He will always be missed.
Kimberlee Smith (Hyman)
The accident occurred in 2002. He is greatly missed.Amy Sluder (Woodard)
It still is hard to believe he is gone. We kept in touch for a couple of years after graduation while both at ECU but then lost touch.....as most of us do after college/marriage/kids. In preparing for this 20 year reunion, I've been looking through our yearbook to try and remember faces and names. There are a couple of pics of me and Charles hanging out and it makes me think of him and the fact he is gone. So sad!Charles, we miss you!
Amy
Rodney Holder
The last time I saw Charles I was speeding through Raleigh in the Brentwood area. The officer said my name before he got the window, and it through me off. I was prepared to be as rude as possible and it was him. Needless to say he let me go, but more than that we caught up for a second. I told him I'd heard he was on the force and he told me to keep it safe. Not slow down, just keep it safe. This was about 3 months before the accident.Eddie Moore
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends...John 15:13.Jennifer Crocker (Lawrence)
Charles was one of my very first friends when I moved to North Carolina in 8th grade. We went to the fair together, out to eat pizza, and we were in chorus together. I remember walking through downtown Raleigh with him after singing at a high school graduation with our chorus group...we were lost and ended up at McDonald's. So young, we didn't realize it wasn't the best part of town to be wondering around in. All we cared about was some hot french fries!!! Great memories! The last time I saw him was a few months before he died. I hadn't seen him in years, and I was at Kanki at Crabtree Mall for my 30th birthday. I was pregnant with my second son and I ran into him right outside the restaurant. He was holding his little girl and seemed so proud of her! He got to meet my oldest son, Clayton. We hugged and went on our way. That was June 2002, and he was gone a few short months later. I drove to the church to attend the funeral, but couldn't stop crying long enough to get out of the car and walk in. I simply prayed in my car as I sat there thinking of his family. He was a sweet person and is greatly missed!