I wrote the following story a decade ago for the ABH when Clarence Holeman announced his retirement from the police department. Now it’s been four years since “Pipeman” passed away, and the demolition this week of The Varsity brought him back to mind, for it was there that I often stopped on my way home at night to chat with my old friend at his side at job as the restaurant’s security officer.
After 3 decades, Athens police Maj. Holeman plans to retire
Joe Johnson
Published 6:03 p.m. ET Nov. 21, 2014
The Athens-Clarke County Police Department will begin 2015 with a noticeable absence.
Maj. Clarence Holeman is retiring at the beginning of the year after policing the community for nearly 35 years.
A bearish man with a gray walrus mustache and hallmark pipe that stuck him with the nickname "Pipeman," Holeman approached his job with integrity, earning him respect in his department and the community.
"Overall, I've had a great career. It's been a fantastic voyage," Holeman said. "I think that what I do and did in law enforcement is what I was meant to do.
The fulfillment that's personally gratifying - for solving crimes and the appreciation shown to me by families and the community - has been more than I expected."
A native of Poplar Bluff, Mo., Holeman joined the U.S. Air Force and served as a military police officer from 1971 to 1980.
Holeman joined the Athens Police Department in March 1980 and continued to serve with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department after the city and county governments unified in 1991. He became a detective in 1984, and was promoted to sergeant and lieutenant in 1989 and 2000, respectively.
"I feel this is an anointed profession that's not for everyone," he said. "I chose law enforcement because it was meant to be."
Holeman believes his greatest contribution to the community came in the 1990s, when he was a sergeant assigned to supervise the cleanup of an area of east Athens then known as the Iron Triangle due to its high rate of violent crime. For his efforts, in 1996 Holeman received the Sherm Applebaum Award given annually by the Athens Rotary Club to a law enforcement officer who exemplifies professionalism and "service to others above self."
“In a profession that's not liked or appreciated by everyone, I feel that I struck a balance with people of all races and backgrounds, from the wealthiest to the poor, and gave the respect that's deserved by everyone as a human being," Holeman said.
It was during Holeman's time as a police supervisor in east Athens that people in the community saw him firing up bowls of tobacco and started referring to him as Pipeman. The name stuck and even members of his department have called him that ever since.
While a lieutenant, Holeman was assigned to the robbery-homicide unit and oversaw the investigations of numerous murders and other violent crimes, many of which led to convictions. When elevated to captain, he commanded the entire Centralized Criminal Investigations Division, of which robbery-homicide is a part.
Holeman's most rewarding times as a police officer occurred when he was affiliated with the robbery-homicide unit and able to assist in bringing justice to the loved ones of homicide victims. He is most satisfied that under his command, detectives were able identify and arrest the person who in 2007 murdered a convenience store clerk during an armed robbery.
Djamal Atroune, a 42-year-old mathematician from Algeria, was shot and killed while working the graveyard shift at Lay's Kwik Korner on Lexington Road. The only thing the killer took was a bottle of Gatorade, and the entire event was recorded by the store's surveillance system.
"It was unnecessary and I have vivid memories of the video of (Atroune) being shot in real time and (the killer) taking only a power drink," Holeman said.
After an exhaustive investigation and trial, Clifton James "Spanky" Thomas was convicted of Atroune's murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Holeman took command of the police department's west precinct upon his promotion to major in April 2013.
He lives in Athens with his wife, Bernice. They have two adult children and three grandchildren.
The 62-year-old officer only recently concluded that this would be his year to retire.
"I've struggled with making that decision all year, and to be honest, it's simply time," Holeman said. "The time has come for me to put it to rest and enjoy what life I have left ... and to rest."
Follow Criminal Justice reporter Joe Johnson at www.facebook.com/JoeJohnsonABH or www.twitter.com/JoeJohnsonABH.
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