As we approach the close of National Police Week, we would like to take a moment to pay tribute to the 41 officers who died in the line of duty so far this year.

I wish the list would stop here, never reaching 42, unfortunately it won’t. The number of fallen officers is already 21% above this same time last year. In the previous five years alone, 765 law enforcement officers died while serving their communities.

In police agencies all across the U.S. and its territories, the following officers are no longer here to answer roll call. They’ve each reached the end of their watch.

You gave your all to protect and serve us, and for that we are eternally grateful.

Agent Mayra Ramírez-Barreto

Puerto Rico Department of Justice

 

Correctional Officer Eliezer Colón-Claussells

Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

 

Officer Kevin A. Tonn

Galt California Police Department

 

Trooper Michael Slagle

Tennessee Highway Patrol

 

Sergeant Rick Riggenbach

Chitimacha Tribal Police Department

 

Officer William Michael McGary

Conway Arkansas Police Department

 

Sergeant Patrick Divers

New York City Police Department

 

Officer Patricia A. “Patty” Parete

Buffalo New York Police Department

 

Deputy Sheriff Billy Ray Grimsley

Portsmouth Virginia Sheriff’s Office

 

Public Safety Officer Keith Lawrence

University of Southern California Department of Public Safety

 

Officer Michael Crain

Riverside California Police Department

 

Detective Jeremiah MacKay

San Bernardino County California Sheriff’s Department

 

Detective Christopher Simpson

Chesterfield Missouri Police Department

 

Officer Josh Lynaugh

St. Paul Minnesota Police Department

 

Senior Officer Specialist Eric Williams

United States Department of Justice – Federal Bureau of Prisons

 

Sergeant Loran “Butch” Baker

Santa Cruz California Police Department

 

Detective Elizabeth Butler

Santa Cruz California Police Department

 

Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati

United States Department of Justice – Federal Bureau of Prisons

 

Sergeant Gary Morales

St. Lucie County Florida Sheriff’s Office

 

Corporal Terry Johnson

Sebastian County Arkansas Sheriff’s Office

 

Master Trooper Junius A. Walker

Virginia State Police

 

Village Public Safety Officer Thomas O. Madole

Alaska State Troopers

 

Police Chief Randy Boykin

Enterprise Mississippi Police Department

 

Executive Director Tom Clements

Colorado Department of Corrections

 

Sergeant Gilbert Cortez

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

 

Director Larry Johnson

Fifth Judicial District Arkansas Drug Task Force

 

Trooper James Sauter

Illinois State Police

 

Trooper Tage Toll

Alaska State Troopers

 

Correctional Officer Brandon Elliot Kountz

United States Department of Justice – Federal Bureau of Prisons

 

Sheriff Eugene Crum

Mingo County West Virginia Sheriff’s Office

 

Detective Eric Smith

Jackson Mississippi Police Department

 

Deputy Sheriff Hans Fifer

Faulkner County Arkansas Sheriff’s Office

 

Chief of Police Anthony Q. Barfield, Sr.

Barwick Georgia Police Department

 

Officer Donald Bishop

Town of Brookfield Wisconsin Police Department

 

Assistant Warden Peggy Sylvester

Opelousas Louisiana Police Department

 

Officer Sean Collier

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Police Department

 

Deputy Sheriff Chad Christian Key

Grayson County Texas Sheriff’s Office

 

Deputy Sheriff Douglas Leon Hanna

Washita County Oklahoma Sheriff’s Office

 

Master Deputy Sheriff Joseph “Shane” Robbins

Polk County Florida Sheriff’s Office

 

Patrolman William J. “Jerry” McCarthy, IV

Shenango Township Pennsylvania Police Department

 

Officer Tim Huffman

Arizona Department of Public Safety

 

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy designated May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day, and that week as Police Week. Each year since, officers all across the country pay tribute to the officers who were killed in the line of duty.

Yesterday, Denene and I were honored to join Savannah, Ga. area law enforcement officers as they paid tribute to the 51 local officers who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

The Savannah ceremony was led by Michelle Gavin, SCMPD Community Relations Administrator.

Savannah-Chatham Metro Police Chief Willie Lovett welcomed and addressed the largest audience to turn out for the annual ceremony.

Savannah Mayor Edna B. Jackson expressed her appreciation for the local police, and for the outstanding job they do keeping Savannah residents and visitors safe.

Chatham County Sheriff Al St. Lawrence, who’s served in Savannah area law enforcement for over five decades, remembered the fallen officers he’d worked with during his service as a police officer and administrator.

Pooler, Ga. Chief of Police Mark Revenew delivered the keynote address, noting that police officers run toward danger while others flee for safety.

APO Heather Clendening and APO Jeremy McKnight presented a single red rose for each of the 51 fallen officers.

Sheriff St. Lawrence and Chief Lovett “Laying the Wreath.”

The video below is a wonderfully produced story of yesterday’s ceremony (WSAV video).

* 41 officers in the U.S. have lost their lives in the line of duty so far this year.