Police on horses.
Thousands gathered to honor fallen police officers during a commemoration May 13 at the Police Memorial near Judiciary Square in Northwest Washington D.C.
Police officers from every branch, state, municipality and district attended, some travelling from as far away as Canada and England. Family, friends and colleagues of the fallen were also present, swaddled by a sea of colorful uniforms.
The 27th Annual Candlelight Vigil was held as part of the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund’s recognition of National Law Enforcement Week, May 10 to May 16; this year’s theme is “Honoring Courage, Saluting Sacrifice.”
Volunteers Ashley Gibbs and Audra Barbour were among those who said they came to honor the work of law enforcement officers.
“I’m here because I’m giving back to how they give to the community,” said Gibbs, 27, a student at the Community College of Baltimore County.
Barbour, 33, wants to become a police K-9 officer, following in the footsteps of her father and uncle, both retired police officers.
“I want to give back,” said Barbour. “I want to be a police officer, a patrol officer, it’s in my blood.”
Jesse Lee is an 11-year veteran of the sheriff’s department in Northumberland, Va., 90 miles from Richmond, Va.
Bagpipe members at ceremony
“I’m here due to a Virginia state trooper I knew who was killed in the line of duty two years ago,” said Lee. “His name is Adam Bowen.”
Lee said crime is low in the small rural town in which he works. On average about four arrests are made each month, which may involve speeding, a DUI or domestic violence.
On the topic of police killing unarmed Black men, Lee felt the Trayvon Martin case was one in which “Zimmerman got away with murder.” But he believed the Eric Garner case was a bit different, due to Garner’s size police telling him numerous times not to sell cigarettes.
The ceremony included a presentation of colors, the national anthem, an invocation and remarks, as well as musical tributes, a bagpipe solo, and a roll call of the fallen.
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh C. Johnson was also present at the ceremony and said he traveled earlier this year to New York to pay his respects following the assassination slayings of officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu.
“When I heard about the killing, I had to go there,” he said. “I went to the 84th precinct; I wanted to pay my respects.”
United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch also spoke. Sworn in on April 27, Lynch delivered and extended endorsement to law enforcement. Her speech can be viewed in its entirety at: http://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/attorney-general-loretta-e-lynch-delivers-remarks-national-law-enforcement-officers
