ROBERTSDALE, Alabama – Scott Ward lives on in the memories of his family and fellow law enforcement officers. He also has a legacy – The Ward Room.

On Friday, Ward’s name was added to the Baldwin County Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and the Sheriff’s Office officially unveiled a weight and fitness room named in honor of the slain officer.

Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack said the ceremony was held in advance of National Police Week for a reason. Mack and Ward’s family, including widow Andrea Ward, will travel to Washington, D.C. to see his name unveiled on the national monument honoring fallen law officers.

Ward was killed in the line of duty when responding to a disturbance call last November. While trying to diffuse a tense situation in the Marlow community, Ward was shot and killed by suspect Michael Jansen. Sgt. Curtis Summerlin was also shot. Jansen was killed when the officers returned fire.

“His effort to end a volatile situation stands as a reminder of what every law enforcement officer faces every day,” said Mack.

“We know each of us is going to die. We just don’t know when,” said Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office chaplain Bo Rice. “Scott Ward lived his life as a servant to others and he lived his life as a servant of God. In that we can rejoice.”

While inclement weather forced the ceremony to be moved into the vehicle shop at the BCSO support services department, Mack reveled in the irony.

“When we started planning this, we never thought we would end up in a garage,” said Mack. “But what better place? Scott was so particular about his vehicle. I can see him washing that Tahoe to make sure it didn’t have a speck of mud on it.”

Ward was added to the memorial in Robertsdale that honors the eight officers who died in Baldwin County in the line of duty. Ward’s death on Nov. 20, 2012 was the first since Lt. Coy Smith of the Alabama Public Service Commission was killed on June 28, 1994.

The Ward Room

As a daily reminder, BCSO also unveiled a new weight training and fitness room at the Robertsdale complex.

“One of Scott’s sidelines was physical fitness,” said Mack. “He took pride in the way he looked, but he would also lend his personal time and expertise as a personal trainer to any SO employee, whether it was for rehabilitation, losing weight or just getting in shape.

“Scott and I had several conversations about the sheriff’s office having a fitness room. Now it does.”

Lt. Steve Arthur spearheaded the organization of The Ward Room. The department used seized money to purchase new equipment. The room is open 24-7 to anyone who works for BCSO.

“It’s a small facility, but you can do so much in there,” said Arthur. “It’s top of the line equipment.

The room is located in Robertsdale to provide a central location for employees all across the county. And it is being used.

“We opened it the end of March,” said Arthur. “And folks are using it. Sometimes you go in and have to wait your turn.”