GULFPORT -- A candlelight vigil will be held at 8 p.m. today at Coalville Cemetery to honor the memory of officer Robert J. Curry.
Curry, 39, a lieutenant with the Gulfport Police Department, was killed a year ago today while helping to escort a funeral procession on U.S. 49. He was lieutenant for the traffic division and district supervisor for Orange Grove.
Cmdr. Chris Ryle, public information officer, said the vigil will be a time for Gulfport police to honor Curry. "Everybody's in a somber mood, but Robert would want us to carry on with protecting the citizens of Gulfport."
He said numerous police personnel contributed to the vigil, so much so he can't tell who handled what aspect of the vigil that will take place at the Lorraine Road cemetery, where Curry is buried. Curry, who had lived in Woolmarket, attended Coalville United Methodist Church.
Cmdr. Ryle said that during the past year police personnel have provided support to Curry's wife, Leslee, daughter Krysten and son Trevor. Leslee Curry, also a police lieutenant, was not scheduled for duty today.
Ryle and Curry had worked together for 11 years. "We were really good friends. He's been missed. I've missed seeing his face everyday at work."
Still, Ryle said he and the other police officials press on because they have a job to do protecting the public in Gulfport, and that's what Curry would want them to do.
Lt. Rob Curry had been employed with Gulfport police since 1994, and had worked for the Harrison County Police Academy. He was a hostage negotiator and a master DUI instructor for Gulfport Police Department. He also served in the U.S. Air Force during the Gulf War.
