AUBURN — The city of Auburn on Sunday morning dedicated a memorial to Norman Philbrick, a police officer who was killed in 1949 while directing traffic at the corner of Court and Main streets when two fire trucks collided.
Officer Norman Philbrick of the Auburn Police Department and Capt. Russell H. Tarr and Pvt. Marcien Vallee of the Lewiston Fire Department were killed July 7, 1949, when two fire trucks collided at the intersection of Main and Court streets in Auburn. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal
The dedication ceremony marked the 75th anniversary of Philbrick’s death in the line of duty.
Philbrick’s memorial was dedicated at the crash site, where a monument now marks the corner as Officer Norman Philbrick Square.
“The Auburn City Council felt that it was time we recognized Officer Philbrick with a lasting and meaningful memorial. How fitting that it is in this place, this intersection, where he died so many years ago,” Auburn Mayor Jeffrey Harmon said. “I hope that each time you pass through this intersection at the heart of our city, you remember the ultimate sacrifice given by this officer and his family, and by the firefighters who also lost their lives here that day.”
Capt. Russell H. Tarr, 48, and Pvt. Marcien Vallee, 26, of the Lewiston Fire Department were also killed in the crash.
“Their legacy of valor will never be forgotten, and this new memorial, this city square, will remind us of all that was lost, and of all that was given,” Chief Jason Moen of the Auburn Police Department said.
Philbrick’s daughter, Judith Marston, of Standish, was 4 years old when her father died at age 30. Marston said she does not recall the day the news reached her family. She said she is happy to have had a great childhood, thanks to her family.
“I wish my mother and sister were here today,” Marston said. “It would’ve meant a lot to them.”
Thirty members of Norman Philbrick’s extended family attend Sunday’s dedication of Officer Norman Philbrick Square at the intersection of Main and Court streets in Auburn. The Auburn police officer was killed July 7, 1949, while directing traffic at the corner of Court and Main streets when two fire trucks collided. Philbrick was 30 years old. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal
The naming of the corner was made possible due to a new city ordinance, Moen said.
“We memorialize (the accident) every year, wearing our mourning tabs,” he said. “With the passing of some ordinances that allowed for the naming of parks and whatnot, it gave the City Council an opportunity to be able to do this.”
The Auburn Police Department has also named a trained police dog in honor of Philbrick.
“Officer Philbrick is also remembered in the form of a brilliant, brave and very handsome police K-9 named Brick,” Moen told attendees at Sunday’s dedication ceremony. “Brick and his partner are not only a talented law enforcement team, but they also are ambassadors to our community, building relationships with our residents, especially the kids.”
Brick, a 3-year-old Belgian Malinois, is handled by Officer Timothy Robinson.
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