Page 4 - September 2019

THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE

YOAKUM PARKWAY NAMED AFTER APD
OFFICER EUGENE YOAKUM

By Rashawnda Atkinson

Everyday our residents and guests enter and leave our
community via Yoakum Parkway. But have you ever won-
dered how Yoakum Parkway got its name?

Yoakum Parkway was named such on February 2, 1975 to
honor Alexandria Police Department’s Private Eugene
Yoakum’s ultimate sacrifice. Fifty-five years ago, he was
th
the 14 Alexandria Police Department (APD) officer to be
slain (since the early 1800s) according to the Alexandria
Police Foundation’s (APF) website. Private Eugene Yoa-
kum was 31 years old.

The Alexandria Retired Police and Fire Association, Alex- Private Eugene Yoakum, seen here with his K-9 partner Mucho,
andria Police Association, Alexandria Police Union and is honored by a street name and marker located on the median
Watergate at Landmark were present at a rededication cer- outside of the main entrance gate.
emony on May 11, 1998. A marker commemorating the Photo reprinted with the permission of ARRL. Copyright ARRL.
dedication and the rededication ceremonies was placed in received a lot of publicity for their work, which led to rob-
the medium across from WAL’s main entrance. bery arrests in Alexandria and nearby Fairfax County.

Private Eugene Yoakum Yoakum and Mucho were scheduled to appear at the Foun-
Eugene Yoakum was born in Speedwell, TN on December dation of Amateur Radio Club’s annual hamfest on Satur-
18, 1932. He became a Marine in 1950 and joined the day, September 27, 1964 according to QST.
APD in April of 1954 according to the APD’s Profile of
Courage. During his ten-year career with APD, Yoakum In the Line of Duty
was cited for his bravery during a shoot-out with super- Yoakum and Mucho arrived on the scene of an assault call
market burglars according to APF. After joining the K-9 as back up just before 2 a.m. on the day of the hamfest.
unit in 1960, Yoakum received a new partner—a black and The suspect was intoxicated and fired one fatal shot to Eu-
tan German Shepherd named Mucho. The duo was among gene Yoakum’s chest while the officer attempted to
the first to be in APD’s K-9 unit according to the Alexan- deescalate the situation. Two other officers on the scene
dria Gazette. then began exchanging gunfire with the suspect, and he
also succumbed to injuries while battling police according
While on patrol with APD Sergeant Cecil Kesler, both to several online sources.
Kesler and Yoakum noticed Mucho’s ability to differenti-
ate between when the dispatcher called Yoakum’s squad Yoakum was taken to Alexandria Hospital where he was
car from other calls according to the Daily Independent declared dead at 2:20 a.m. Upon Private Yoakum’s pass-
Journal. From that point on, Yoakum used his spare time ing, he left his wife, Elizabeth, and their children, Marion,
to train him to respond to commands with a walkie talkie Tyrone and Sharon to treasure his memory. The officer
harness attached to Mucho. was laid to rest at National Memorial Park in Falls Church
according to his APF profile.
“We didn’t know such a fuss would be raised about it…,”
Yoakum says to the Daily Independent Journal and other What happened to Mucho?
news sources in January 1963. However, the duo gained Mucho stayed with Private Yoakum until he passed away,,
notoriety for bringing the dog into “the electronic age” watching over his body as medical assistance came ac-
several news sources report, and Mucho was the only dog cording to several sources including the Old Squad Car
known to be trained in this method according to the 1964 website. He was gifted to the Yoakum family where he
edition of QST Magazine. The APF reports that the duo spent the rest of his days.

Page 4 Wheel September 2019