In the winter of 1999, the community of Villa Rica, Georgia, was shaken by the sudden and violent death of one of its own. Captain Robbie Edward Bishop, a 35-year-old male officer with the Villa Rica Police Department, was killed in the line of duty on Wednesday, January 20, 1999. A respected and well-known figure in law enforcement, Captain Bishop had built a formidable reputation as a drug interdiction officer, setting state records for interstate drug seizures. His career was marked by the confiscation of thousands of pounds of narcotics and millions of dollars in drug money. He was so proficient in his work that police departments across the country sought him out for training.
On that fateful January morning, at approximately 11:00 am, Captain Bishop conducted a traffic stop on I-20, about 18 miles east of the Alabama state line. While in the process of writing a citation, the driver of the vehicle shot him in the head. A passing motorist later discovered Captain Bishop slumped over the wheel of his patrol car. He was airlifted to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:30 pm.
The man responsible for Captain Bishop's murder was identified as Jeffrey McGee, then 32, from Schenectady, New York. After the shooting, McGee fled, prompting an extensive manhunt. He was eventually captured near Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in early February 1999. McGee was brought to justice for his crime and, on February 1, 2001, was convicted of first-degree murder. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The death of Captain Bishop, a 12-year veteran of law enforcement, sent ripples of grief far beyond Villa Rica. His funeral was attended by over 7,000 people, a testament to the impact he had on his community and colleagues. The funeral procession, which stretched for over 25 miles, included 200 motorcycles and more than 1,000 vehicles with flashing lights, as officers and citizens lined the highways to pay their respects. In honor of his dedicated service and ultimate sacrifice, a section of Highway 61 in Villa Rica was named the Robbie Bishop Memorial Highway, and the local justice building was co-named the Holt-Bishop Justice Center. Captain Bishop was survived by his wife and two young children.
