Remember those who fell on National Peace Officers Memorial Day

President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which the day falls as National Police Week. This year National Police Week is May 10 through May 16.

In 1991, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial was dedicated in Washington D.C. This year, the names of 307 brave men and women will be engraved on the walls of the memorial.

Time is set aside during the week to give special recognition to those officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

This year ceremonies around the country are being altered or canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Mississippi Highway Patrol and the attorney general’s office modified their normal services, which were held earlier this week. Ceremonies in Washington are being held virtually and have been modified.

Locally we remember Vicksburg Police K-9 Thor. His end of watch was Sept. 3, 2019, from heat exhaustion. His name has been added to the Officer Down Memorial page so that his memory might be eternal.

Thor joins the following officers from the Vicksburg Police Department: Officer James A. Goode, end of watch Jan. 6,1930, who died of gunfire; Patrolman Robert Forbish, end of watch, April 10,1927, due to gunfire; and Capt. Charles H. Stites, end of watch, Nov. 5, 1916, who also succumbed to gunfire. To read more about these officers and the incidents in which they lost their lives, visit the Officer Down Memorial Page.

We also take this opportunity to remember Warren County Sheriff’s personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice including: Deputy Johnny Edward Gaston, end of watch March 10, 2015; Deputy Sheriff David Wayne Lambert, end of watch, July 20, 2010; and Deputy Sheriff Thomas R. Wilson III, end of watch, May 17, 2009. These officers all died because of automobile accidents.

Other Sheriff’s personnel honored this week include: Deputy A.H. “Holly” Koerper, who was murdered by an inmate July 6, 1974, inside the Warren County jail; Chief Deputy Jasper Luckett, who was shot and killed May 11, 1943; and Deputy Sheriff Clarence James Lanier, who was shot and killed Aug. 10,1930.

To read more about these Warren County officers, visit this ODMP page.

To learn more about the National Law Enforcement Memorial visit https://nleomf.org