Greg Alia

It’s been a year, a year since I was out to have lunch with my girlfriend when I heard of a Forest Acres police officer having been shot and killed. I later heard this from a few friends and people I hardly knew at all.

I still didn’t know which officer had been murdered, but it was one of ours. I knew and still know a few officers and I appreciate what they do for Forest Acres, but no one had yet mentioned the victim’s name – not as if it would mattered overall. Again, it was one of ours, period.

Later that night I met some friends at our watering hole at The Other Store. It’s been almost a year to the hour now that I think of it. Many of us, many not knowing Greg Alia personally or at all, were pissed and angry because an officer of Forest Acres was shot and killed. It could have easily been one of the officers we actually knew or knew well. A few knew Greg or of him and spoke highly of him.

The anger was heightened and we thought we should do something to raise money for Greg’s family. Actually, much money had been raised, but we wanted to do so locally in Forest Acres and show local support, not just through raising contributions.

I met with the City of Forest Acres the very next day to talk about having a fundraising effort at the four corners of Trenholm Road and Forest Drive. Mark Williams, City Manager, was very supportive and I sensed where his heart was, but his hands were tied for various reasons.

This was October 1, just two days before what we now know as the Flood of October 2015 occurred. Lord only knows if we would have accomplished anything as after a few weeks of steady rains, we were about to receive a deluge of more water.

Most of you know what happened next, but thanks to the efforts of many we were able to honor Greg Alia a few weeks later, raise money and support for him and his family at an event at Richland Mall’s roof-top.

This is when I met Greg’s wife, Kassy, whom has taken the cause for fallen officers to a higher level nationwide. She’s a beautifully strong woman.

Please go to http://1ofo1ofu.blogspot.com/ to see to visit the adhoc website I created last year to honor Greg and bring awareness for the fundraising.