HIGH POINT – The final piece of the High Point Police Department’s new memorial was unveiled Friday.

A 6-foot bronze statue standing guard atop a Fallen Officers Monument now graces the area in front of police headquarters, bringing to completion a project that was undertaken to coincide with the city’s Sesquicentennial Celebration.

The $70,000 memorial was paid for entirely with donated funds, and police officials gathered at the site Friday with some of the key donors.

“The most important thing about this project is that each and every penny came from our citizens,” said police Chief Jim Fealy. “To me, that’s a beautiful thing, because of the trust and respect they’ve shown us.”

The original plan was to have the statue – a life-sized replica of a High Point officer – in place when the memorial was unveiled in May, but the Minnesota-based artist working on it took ill, which delayed its finish.

The project came in over budget, but the family of High Point University President Nido Qubein, along with others associated with HPU, contributed enough for the final payment, Fealy said.

“We have a depth of appreciation for the High Point Police Department and respect the men and women here who help keep this community safe,” Qubein said. “We are proud to be able to contribute to such a worthy project that honors those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our community.”

Police credited the High Point Community Foundation with helping coordinate donations. The names of several donors are enshrined on the monument.

“This is just another example of our business community investing its time, talent and dollars for a great cause,” said City Manager Strib Boynton.

Money was also raised through the sale of laser-engraved bricks with the donors’ names on them. The bricks were placed at the base of the memorial.

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