The 12-year-old son of one of the four law enforcement officers killed Monday in a shootout in Charlotte, North Carolina, has written a tribute to his father, the Charlotte Observer reports.
12-Year-Old Writes Moving Tribute to his Dad, an Officer Slain in Charlotte Shooting
Officer William “Alden” Elliott, 46, was a 14-year veteran of the Department of Adult Correction. He was one of three members of a U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force killed Monday while serving a warrant in east Charlotte.
by Staff
May 2, 2024
Officer Alden Elliott and Officer Sam Poloche were both 14-year veterans of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction. Both were killed Monday April 29, 2024, while serving on a fugitive task force. They were serving a warrant in Charlotte when the target of the warrant shot them. Two other officers were also killed.
Credit:
NC Department of Adult Correction/Facebook
2 min to read
Theo James Elliott, son of Officer William “Alden” Elliott of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction wrote:
William “Alden” Elliott Obituary
My daddy is a hero.
He died getting the bad guys, that’s what he was good at.
He is a Marine.
He is a Police Officer.
He is kind and patient.
He keeps my mom and I safe.
He is my daddy; the best daddy.
We love playing video games together. He really likes Mario, Zelda, and Metroid Return of Samus.
We collect Pokemon cards. I have a Charizard that he helped me get graded.
He and I have watched every Star Wars movie and series.
My daddy loves playing and watching baseball. His favorite team is the Dodgers.
He is an expert marksman, perfect score every time.
For my 12th birthday he bought me a dirt bike. He bought himself one too, so that we could ride together.
I will learn how to ride it and we will ride together one day, Daddy.
He was the best man I will ever know.
And I hope to be just like him.
— Theo
Officer William “Alden” Elliott, 46, was a 14-year veteran of the Department of Adult Correction. He was one of three members of a U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force killed Monday while serving a warrant in east Charlotte on a felon wanted for possession of a firearm. A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officer was also killed in the same gunfight after responding to back up the task force. Four other officers were wounded or injured in the same incident.
More Patrol
Colorado State Patrol Releases 2025 Struck-By Analysis
The Colorado State Patrol, after analyzing its 2025 struck-by incidents, identified one area for improvement: using traffic cones to provide advanced warning before the cruiser's location. Here is the agency’s final data.
Read More →
Streamlight Names 144th Marketing Group Law Enforcement Sales Rep Agency of the Year
Streamlight has recognized the 144th Marketing Group as its 2025 Sales Rep Agency of the Year Award for the Law Enforcement market.
Read More →Streamlight Names 144th Marketing Group Law Enforcement Sales Rep Agency of the Year
Streamlight has recognized the 144th Marketing Group as its 2025 Sales Rep Agency of the Year Award for the Law Enforcement market.
Read More →
The Mission After the Moment
The mission of the Jorge Pastore Foundation is to support first responders through essential training, stronger community engagement, and mental wellness resources, all accessible and funded through donations, sponsorships, and foundation-led fundraising. It works closely with Team Wendy in the discussions about developing better protective gear for officers.
Read More →
Sponsored•March 17, 2026
Built for Patrol: How One Police Chief Fixed Communication, Boosted Visibility, and Changed the Culture
Patrol work hasn’t changed—but the expectations on officers have. See how one police chief helped officers get the right information at the right time, improve patrol visibility, and strengthen trust without adding complexity or surveillance. This real-world story shows how patrol-driven technology can make the job safer, smarter, and more effective—starting on day one.
Read More →
Sponsored•March 2, 2026
Safariland Solis Rethinks Concealable Duty
What if Level I retention didn’t require a full duty rig? Safariland’s Solis delivers trusted ALS security in a streamlined OWB platform built for administrative and plainclothes professionals who need protection without the bulk.
Read More →
K-9s Play a Critical Role in Finding Missing Persons
Real-world scenarios show that a tracking canine can detect and follow a human track several hours after it was made.
Read More →
Garmont Tactical’s LE Boot Lineup
In this video, we get a look at the latest law enforcement boots from Garmont Tactical, both for men and women. Kyle Ferdyn, sales manager, showcases four of the latest boots.
Read More →
Avon Protection Launches EXOSKIN-S2 High-Performance CBRN Protective Suit
With the commercial availability of Avon Protection’s EXOSKIN-S2, users now have increased options for their protective suit requirements across the spectrum of CBRN threat environments.
Read More →
Versaterm Acquires Aloft to Unlock a New Era of Drones for Public Safety
Versaterm has acquired Aloft, an FAA-approved Unmanned Service Supplier (USS) that specializes in real-time airspace intelligence and flight authorizations.
Read More →