Police officers to swim Lake Norman

Six Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers will swim the 34-mile length of Lake Norman Wednesday and Thursday to raise college funds for the children of CMPD Officers Sean Clark and Fred Thornton, both killed in the line of duty.

Clark, 34, and fellow CMPD Officer Jeff Shelton, 35, were fatally shot March 31, 2007, after responding to a call at the Timber Ridge Apartments in east Charlotte.

Demeatrius Montgomery was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences without parole.

Clark left behind his son and his wife, who was 7 months pregnant with their second son.

Thornton, a 50-year-old father of four, was only a few months from retirement when a flash-bang device went off Feb. 25, 2011, as he was securing his SWAT gear at his Mint Hill home. He suffered massive internal injuries and died later at Carolinas Medical Center.

Thornton was the longest tenured officer on the department’s SWAT team with 23 years of service. He left behind his wife, two daughters and two sons.

The swim will take place at Blythe Landing Park on N.C. 73.

The swimmers will boat from Blythe Landing to a start point at the northernmost part of the lake. The officers will then swim throughout the day and night until they reach the finish line back at Blythe Landing. The swim is expected to take 24 hours, until about 3 p.m. Thursday.

A family-friendly festival is scheduled at the finish line from 1 p.m. until dark Thursday.

The public can track the swimmers live at www.facebook.com/honorswim and donate at www.gofundme.com/honors.

This story was originally published May 17, 2016 at 8:02 AM with the headline "Police officers to swim Lake Norman."