The Dallas County Sheriff’s Department recognized their deputies who died in the line of duty in downtown Dallas on Elm Street.
National Peace Officer Memorial Week runs from May 14 to May 20. During the week, the nation recognizes, honors, and commemorates the lives of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.
The memorial hosted on Friday, May 12, by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department was heartfelt and solemn. Members of the community, as well as Dallas County officials, attended the memorial.
In attendance was Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, along with ranking member of the Dallas County Commissioner’s Court John Wiley Price.
Neither Jenkins nor Price spoke at the event, but members of the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department relayed powerful messages that honored their fellow officers.
Family members of officers who lost their lives in the line of duty held each other as the names of the officers were read aloud.
Assistant Chief Deputy Raymond Williams stood at the podium and delivered a poignant message to the crowd and families.
“For your loyalty to one another and for your service to your communities, and may we never ever forget our fallen colleagues,” said Williams as he concluded his speech.
As the memorial continued and the names of the deceased officers were read one by one, a group of officers could be seen saluting the five memorials marked with the fallen officer’s names, providing their colleagues a final send-off and signifying their end of watch.
Toward the end of the memorial, a group of deputies walked to the center with a flag of the United States and began folding it — a time-honored tradition to honor those who have died in the line of duty.
Afterward, an officer approached the deputies and was handed the folded flag.
He then slowly walked over to the memorial and laid the flag at its base.
The event concluded with a 21-gun salute that echoed through downtown Dallas.
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