The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) announced February 4th the selection of Assistant State Fire Marshal Edward S. Paulk as Officer of the Month for February 2000.
Assistant Marshal Paulk is the first fire marshal in the country to receive this distinction and is the second law enforcement officer in Alabama to be chosen in the past nineteen months. Marshal Paulk joined the Alabama Department of Insurance/State Fire Marshals Office in February 1984 as a Deputy State Fire Marshal. On July 17, 1999, Marshal Paulk was one of two deputies promoted to Assistant State Fire Marshal.
Acting Commissioner of Insurance D. David Parsons commented, “Marshal Paulk reflects the extremely high standards of the Fire Marshals Office. He is a leader and example for all of us to follow in both his personal and professional life.”
During his career Marshal Paulk has worked numerous high profile cases including the New Woman All Women Abortion Clinic bombing in Birmingham, AL. Marshal Paulk has successfully worked several targeted property cases where arsonists were caught red handed, at the scene, when they arrived to burn buildings for insurance.
His abilities with working cold cases were demonstrated in Montgomery County several years ago when he successfully identified the arsonist and property owner who hired the arsonist in a twelve year old arson case. The arsonist testified against the property owner who was convicted.
In 1993 he and a second deputy received the Silver Star Award from the National Association of Chief’s of Police and the American Police Hall of Fame. Both deputy marshals were involved in a close proximity gunfight with two escaped bank robbers after they stopped to assist stranded motorists on I-65 at Greenville.