Rob Holloway, Sergeant
Carrollton Police Department
Carrollton, GA
Sgt. Rob Holloway was nominated by Bo Haynes of ValuTeachers.
Sgt. Holloway partnered with the Fraternal Order of Police to raise funds for their fundraising efforts, from raising money for an officer with cancer, to delivering turkey boxes at Thanksgiving, to participating every year with Shop with a Cop. He loves Carrollton and giving back to the citizens. Sgt. Holloway also volunteers with the Police Camps for children during the summer. Most recently, he was the guest speaker at the Citizens Council Police Academy graduation. Additionally, before Sgt. Holloway was injured, he coordinated the CPD Field Training Officer program to train new recruits to make a difference in Carrollton.
On April 12th, 2021, Sgt. Holloway was advised that a Georgia State Trooper had just been fired upon by two suspects following an attempted traffic stop on I-20 near Temple, Georgia. It was reported that the suspects were traveling at speeds over 100 miles per hour, fired an AK47 rifle at the Trooper, disabled his car, and fled toward Carrollton.
Sgt. Holloway prepared his officers and used the city's FLOCK camera system to try to locate the suspect's vehicle. Within minutes, the vehicle was located, and Sgt. Holloway positioned officers and attempted a traffic stop. The suspects fled, and a high-speed pursuit began northbound on Highway 61 with speeds reaching 100 miles per hour.
During the pursuit, the passenger suspect retrieved an AK47 and began to fire multiple rounds at officers. Despite being unable to return fire, the officers stayed in the pursuit, and Sgt. Holloway began coordinating efforts with other local law enforcement agencies to take the vehicle off the roadway. The suspect continued to fire on the officers, and a 7.62 caliber round penetrated the windshield of Sgt. Holloway's patrol car and split into several pieces. One piece was found in his body armor, and another piece penetrated the right temporal region of his skull. Sgt. Holloway lost control of his patrol vehicle, crossed the median and two lanes of traffic, and collided with a utility pole. The Carroll County Sheriff's Office and the Villa Rica Police Department continued pursuit of the suspects while Corporal Wesley Cheatwood and Corporal David Hernandez stopped to coordinate aid to Sergeant Holloway. Their efforts along with Officers Richard Brice, Zack Hicks, Bradley Lopez, Kane Moore, and Alec Uglum saved Sgt. Holloway's life. For more information, click here to view the dash cam footage.
In a multi-jurisdiction effort, one suspect was eventually apprehended and the other suspect was killed, but not before two other officers were shot and wounded. All three officers are recovering. Since that horrific day, Sgt. Holloway has committed his life to sharing his testimony with others.
At the time that Sgt. Holloway was shot, COVID was still a threat and hospitals had strict visitation policies. His wife, Stephanie, had to enter the hospital with Sgt. Holloway and could not leave, or else she could not return. Therefore, she could not work. Her colleagues at Carrollton City Schools donated their own sick leave and personal leave so that she could be there with him for the entire time. Additionally, Mrs. Susan Gordy (retired assistant principal) came back to work to help the administrative team at Carrollton Upper Elementary with Stephanie's duties/responsibilities. District leadership helped cover her duties and responsibilities as well. Children in all grade levels at CCS made cards showing support for the Holloway Family. Grady (Sgt. Holloway's and Stephanie's son) was a senior in high school that year. So, Sgt. Holloway and Stephanie missed several key events of his senior year experience, including prom and graduation. However, Carrollton High School restructured honors night so that Grady could be honored first and the video footage could be streamed live to Sgt. Holloway's hospital room. Dozens of local law enforcement officers and other first responders lined the sides of the auditorium to show support for Grady in Rob's place.
Grady's senior prom was the weekend after the shooting, and school board members worked with the Squire Shop to fit, pick-up, and return Grady's tuxedo. They even allowed him to have it an extra day so that he could go to the hospital wearing it for Sgt. Holloway to see. Likewise, the graduation ceremony was live-streamed so Sgt. Holloway and Stephanie were able to watch it in real-time. Also several officers attended to represent the family. A teacher also made life-size cut-outs of Sgt. Holloway and Stephanie so that Grady could "see" them in the audience. Throughout that year, businesses all over the Carroll County area donated time, money, and resources to help raise money for the family. Before the shooting, Sgt. Holloway had been working with a local builder to re-roof his house. The materials had been selected and were going to be installed. However, after the shooting, the employees of that company volunteered their time and completely re-roofed their home for them for free. The company paid for all the materials. Chad Wallace from Team Blue Line, had their home pressure washed and cleaned after the re-roofing. Additionally, Team Blue Line and local companies donated time, money, and materials for their bathrooms to be remodeled to be more accessible for Sgt. Holloway. Thousands of dollars were raised to help with expenses in a car show for their family. Also, officers at the police department started a rotation schedule to help mow and care for their lawn and home.
On April 23rd, 2023, Sgt. Holloway and Stephanie shared their story at Southern Hills at City Station. Their pastor had been teaching the congregation about suffering and trusting in God through trials. He asked them to share their story from the perspective of suffering because of the actions of others. Sgt. Holloway started his story and said that no matter what any of us are suffering through, it’s nothing compared to what Jesus went through on the cross that day. He discussed his journey over the past two years and mentioned that God would wake him up around 2:00 a.m. every morning while he was a patient at Shepherd Center. God would speak to him, and told him that He’s not done with him yet. He also told them that he had to forgive the men that did this to him and others on April 12th.
“When others hurt you, you must forgive them. Forgiveness requires faith and obedience. I had to be obedient and I had to have faith in God. He told me He’s not done with me. I cannot police anymore. God had a different plan: sharing my testimony and helping others through the peer support team for first responders. I'm ok with His plan. God told me to forgive the men that did this and I have. Forgiveness is not for them. It’s for me. If you hold onto something, you’ll have hatred in your heart. God tells us to forgive people in the Bible. Jesus even asked for forgiveness of the people who were crucifying him. Be obedient. If He tells you right now to do something, would you trust him and take that leap of faith,” said Sgt. Holloway.
He quoted Luke 1:37 “For with God, nothing shall be impossible.” Then, he challenged the audience to be obedient with whatever God has called them to do - witness, tithe, pray for others, forgive someone who has hurt them, fulfill his plan for your life, etc. He said that even though they suffered because of what someone else decided to do on April 12th, God used it for their good and for His glory. There’s a lot of good that came from that day. God used that experience to strengthen their faith, marriage, family, and community.
Not because of anything Sgt. Holloway did, it was because of God. Many more lives were impacted - not just ours. He challenged everyone to know that everyone is fighting a battle. Pay attention, help others. Don’t doubt. Trust God. Be obedient. Have faith.
Sgt. Holloway then turned the microphone over to his wife, Stephanie. She noted that Pastor Lovelady titled the series on suffering, "It is Well." She said that was her favorite hymn, and she told the story of the author of the lyrics for the song "It is Well." Original lyrics were written by Horatio G. Spafford, and he knew suffering. He was a successful attorney and real estate investor in Chicago, but he lost a fortune in the Chicago Fire of 1871. That same year, his 4-year-old son died of scarlet fever.
Thinking his family needed to get away, he sent his wife and four daughters on a ship to England, planning to join them after he finished some pressing business at home. On the voyage, the ship sank and over 200 people died, including his four daughters. His wife survived and sent him a telegram that read, “Saved alone. What shall I do?” He left and went to meet his wife.
On his voyage across where the ship sank with his daughters, he wrote the words to the song: "When peace like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll, Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.”
Stephanie reminded everyone that the Bible reminds us over and over that we will have trouble, but we have the promise that God is with us. Scripture is full of examples of people who suffered. One example of suffering because of others is Joseph (his story is in Genesis) - he was hated by his brothers (jealousy) thrown in the pit, sold into slavery, accused of rape, forgotten in jail, but eventually God would use him to save his family from starvation and ensure the survival of Israel. When his brothers came to beg for forgiveness - years later - Joseph told them, "“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good." - Genesis 50:20 We have hope because - 1 - suffering is temporary- “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” - 1 Peter 5:9-10. Joseph was a teenager and waited years for God’s plan to unfold… but it did. And, we have hope because - 2 - He is with us every step of the way. Matthew 28 - Jesus gives great commission and then promises that “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” What we can learn from Joseph - Stay focused on God’s plan. Have faith and remain positive. Never give up. Honor God wherever you are at. She said she wanted to leave everyone with one verse because there is purpose in the suffering and we should praise during the suffering - Romans 5:3-5 KJV - says “We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” She said that they are better, stronger, closer, and different because of this suffering. Our community came together in a way that was celebrated all over the world. She then thanked everyone again for their prayers and support. Sgt. Holloway prayed and turned the service back over to the praise team.
After the shooting, Fox 5 Atlanta interviewed Sgt. Holloway about his experience. Check out the interview here.
His wife put together a slideshow with more information about his recovery from the shooting and community service work. Click here to check it out.
For more information, please visit https://www.holloway229.com/.
