Family, friends, and colleagues will gather this Tuesday to pay their final respects to Capt. Stan Elrod. The 28-year DNR Law Enforcement veteran was struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver on September 3 while out jogging near his home in Danielsville.
Elrod, formerly of Toccoa, was on duty at the time in physical training, the Department of Natural Resources says. The Georgia State Patrol arrested 31-year-old Arvill Edwards Hamons III of Danielsville in connection with his death. Troopers charged Hamons with DUI, first-degree vehicular homicide, reckless driving, failure to maintain lane, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
Since the tragic news of Elrod’s death first broke people have poured out their condolences and remembrances of him online. “He was a true warrior but you would never know it because of his warm, friendly, caring, and compassionate demeanor,” says Habersham County Chief Magistrate Gerald Johnson. “He was a man of faith, loved his family, the outdoors, people, and life.”
“He said he had two years and four months or so to go and he was going to retire,” Elrod’s friend and fellow DNR Capt. Mike England told reporters with the Athens-Banner Herald.
Elrod joined the DNR in 1993 as a game warden and in 1999, he was chosen as Game Warden of the Year. That was followed by a series of promotions from sergeant in 2004 to captain over the Thomson office in 2016. He was transferred to the regional office in Gainesville in 2019 and was Region 2 Supervisor at the time of his death. The region covers 27 counties in Northeast Georgia from Rabun to Newton.
“He will be remembered for his selfless service and complete devotion to the safety of his fellow officers, fellow Georgians, and his state’s natural resources,” the DNR said in a statement.
In addition to his official duties, Elrod served as a board member of the Georgia chapter of The Outdoor Dream Foundation, which sponsors hunting, fishing and outdoor activities for children with terminal illnesses.
Stan Elrod leaves behind his wife, Julie, and two sons.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, September 8, at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center, Garrison Auditorium in Toccoa. Burial will follow at Stephens Memorial Gardens.
