Today is a very sad day for our Sheriff’s Department. Today is February 24th, 2025, where we honored one of our own. Today is the 20th anniversary of the death of Deputy H. Blake Gammill. Blake is the only Douglas County Deputy to be killed in the line of duty.

I was not working the night that Blake was killed. So, this story is from my memory and verified accounts of what transpired that night.

First let’s go back to the Jimmy Bilbo saga. Jimmy and I had just started our time on the Traffic Enforcement Unit in the summer of 1985. The patrol sergeant’s opening came soon afterwards. Early 1986, maybe. I submitted my request knowing that others had more experience than Jimmy and me. I wanted those Sergeant stripes (rank) and that take-home patrol cruiser. All applicants were to submit a request to be considered along with qualifications. Jimmy and I, along with many others, submitted our requests and qualifications. When the decision was posted, neither Jimmy nor I were chosen. I believe Deputy Bob Starrett was chosen to be the new Patrol Sergeant. Bob was the supervisor that could probably tell you when it was. 85/86ish. I figured my time would come. However, it wasn’t that bad because I already had my take-home Task Force car.

Well, silver spoon Jimmy Bilbo went off at not being chosen. He pitched a fit and quit. Yes, he quit. The next thing I heard about Jimmy was that the Douglas County Fire Department had hired him. Great! Jimmy Bilbo is gone. His family ties didn’t work for him this time. From my memory I believe he worked for a decade or more at the D.C.F.D. But alas, he was fired or quit the fire department and came back begging Sheriff Miller for a job. By that time Phil Miller had been elected Sheriff. The same Phil Miller who was in my “Written Reprimand” story. Oh yea, Sergeant Starrett was the one in my “Van” story who was wrecked behind the Golden Gallon. I do know that Phil said he felt sorry for Jimmy and let him come back around the new millennia 2000. I believe his new S/O job involved juvenile or school divisions. Maybe a juvenile investigator. I really don’t remember, but I was a supervisor in Court Services by that time. I made it a point not to go anywhere he might be. I had a real dislike for Jimmy by that time.

O.K. let’s push forward a couple of years. Our department began to receive unsettling stories about Jimmy Bilbo. Word had gotten around that Deputy Bilbo would give drugs and alcohol to male juveniles at his residence. What I’m about to tell you is the GOD’s honest truth of what I know. An investigation began. Several High School boys stated that if you go to Deputy Bilbo’s house, he will give you drugs and alcohol. The teenaged boys then told boys would sit around Jimmy’s front room and perform a “circle-jerk” with Deputy Bilbo an active participant. I am sorry for the foul language I use here, but it best describes what the boys were reporting. Several boys were interviewed. All I know from there is that he was arrested soon after. When deputies were handcuffing and taking Jimmy into custody, Bilbo Sr. produced a rifle or shotgun from the house and threatened deputies. Shouted commands were adhered to as cooler heads prevailed. That’s the story we heard.

Fast-forward a few weeks and Jimmy’s attorney was finally granted a bond amount that Jimmy’s well-to-do family could make, and he was released from the jail with many stipulations.

This part I’m not really sure of. But what I heard was that Jimmy started trying to call witnesses. The boys who would testify against him. When Sheriff Miller told D.A. David McDade of Bilbo’s attempts, he went to the Superior Court Judge and advised him of witness tampering. The Superior Court Judge ordered Jimmy’s bond to be revoked. It was decided that our S.W.A.T. deputies would execute the arrest since Mr. Bilbo pulled a gun on the previous arrest attempt. The S.W.A.T. team gained entry into Jimmy’s house and quickly subdued and handcuffed him. I believe it was a no-knock entry. The deputies quickly secured Jimmy and short-hopped him to a waiting patrol car. The SWAT team then started to clear Jimmy’s house. In a back bedroom the SWAT team heard rustling. The bedroom door was locked and Bilbo Sr. told them to “stay out.” As procedure dictates, the SWAT team must clear the entire house.  After commands were ignored, the decision was made for the Team to forcibly enter the locked area.

Deputy H. Blake Gammill was the SWAT team leader that night. The door was forced open to find Mr. Bilbo Sr. firing a rifle at the deputies. The SWAT team returned fire, killing old man Bilbo. Where was Blake? They saw Blake lying on the floor at the point of entry. Deputy Blake Gammill had been shot in the head. Deputy Gammill left behind two little girls; I don’t think they were even school age then.

That was 20 years ago today February 24th, 2005.

GOD bless the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of GOD.  Amen