A woman sings "Amazing Grace" at the memorial for DeKalb County Officer David Rose at First Baptist Church of Atlanta on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. Rose was killed while responding to the Aug. 8, 2025 shooting at the CDC. (Matthew Pearson/WABE)
Atlantans continue to honor DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, who died in last August’s shooting at the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters.
Over the weekend, a small crowd gathered to remember the fallen officer at a church not far from the site of the attack.
The nondenominational memorial service at Emory University’s Glenn Memorial Church was somber. Officer David Rose’s widow and young daughter were among the dozens of people in the pews.
There was also a contingent of Rose’s former colleagues at the DeKalb County Police Department.
Major Ariel Toledo spoke about Rose’s courage on the day of the shooting last Aug. 8, when a gunman who had expressed vaccine conspiracy theories fired hundreds of bullets at the CDC, hitting several buildings and shattering windows.
Toledo said Rose put his own life on the line to protect others.
“He went and engaged with the gunman. He deflected, and he saved countless lives; he deflected that active threat that could have killed more people,” he said. “And for that, he will always be a hero.”
DeKalb County Police Commander Major Ariel Toledo spoke at the memorial service for Rose. Rose was killed in the shooting Aug. 8, 2025, when a gunman who had expressed vaccine conspiracy theories fired hundreds of bullets at the CDC, hitting several buildings and shattering windows. (
Toledo described Rose as a dedicated public servant who had also served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining the police department.
“I thank you all for not forgetting him and for inviting us here. I also want to thank the Centers for Disease Control for taking the time to come to me, to have a discussion, and to try to find some healing on this anniversary,” Toledo said. “And for continuing to take your steps to honor Officer Dave Rose’s memory.”
The event included speeches from a former CDC scientist, a professor from the Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, and recorded remarks from Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock.
There were also opportunities for attendees to meet privately at the church with a licensed mental-health therapist, and Amanda Planchard, director of victim services at the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office.
The service was organized by a coalition of CDC mutual aid groups.
Outside the church, CDC researcher Mike Barker said it was important for current and former CDC employees to attend the memorial for Rose.
“The entire CDC was very impacted by what happened on August 8 of last year, and we’re here to show our respects to Officer Rose and make sure that everyone knows that we don’t take his sacrifices lightly and that we’re not going to forget what he did,” he said.
