The Fort Worth Police Department on Friday honored a local police officer who died last year.
Sgt. Jon Jenson contracted COVID-19 in the line of duty and then died from complications while “surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues,” a social media post from FWPD announced last October.
“Sergeant Jenson was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Fort Worth Police Department for 26 years. He is survived by his wife, daughter, son, and sister,” the Officer Down Memorial Page stated.
DX joined those who had gathered on Friday to pay tribute to Sgt. Jenson through an End-of-Watch Ride.
“We deeply appreciate everyone who attended the tribute to Sgt. Jon Jenson. Your presence was a powerful testament to his service and sacrifice, and it provided much-needed support to the families and departments of our fallen officers,” an FWPD post stated, alongside various photos from the event.
“The End of Watch Ride ensures no officer is forgotten, offering recognition and assistance to their families and advocating for safety and training within the department,” a FWPD Facebook post said.
Several city leaders attended the event, including council members Charles Lauersdorf (District 4), Alan Blaylock (District 10), and Carlos Flores (District 2), and emphasized the importance of supporting law enforcement.
“Our law enforcement professionals are the backbone of public safety, ensuring that communities in Fort Worth can thrive in a secure and orderly environment,” Lauersdorf told DX. “Their dedication and service protect our neighborhoods, uphold justice, and foster trust between citizens and the authorities, creating a foundation for a prosperous and peaceful society.”
“It doesn’t matter how beautiful our city may be, doesn’t matter if we completely eliminated property taxes, or even if we provided free housing to all — none of it matters if our city is unsafe. And the only thing standing between evil people and our residents are our Police Officers. That’s why I will ALWAYS be unapologetically supportive of our men and women in blue!”
Writing about the event on Facebook, Flores stressed the need not only to honor fallen officers’ sacrifice but also to support their families.
“Sergeant Jon Jenson served our country and then our city,” Blaylock wrote on Flores’ post. “Thank you to Jon and the [Jenson] family for all that they sacrificed for Fort Worth. God Bless.”
