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Posted: May 27, 2005
“As a law enforcement officer my fundamental duty is to serve the community,
to safeguard lives and property, to protect the innocent against deception,
the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against
violence or disorder…” So begins the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics, a
pledge recited by peace officers across the nation, who protect and
serve…often paying the ultimate price for protecting our citizenry by giving
their lives in the line of duty.
Wednesday, May 18, 2005 an assembly in Plano’s Haggard Park paid tribute to
those peace officers who have fallen in the line of duty across our nation,
and recognized the peace officers from Texas who were killed in our defense
over the past year. For photos,
click here.
“Law enforcement officers know that evil is real,” said Plano Police
Department Chaplain Gene Wilkes. “And evil has servants of its own,
criminals and terrorists who live by violence and make victims of the enemy.
We take time today to remember those who have stood against evil and have
given their lives in service to the citizens of this country.”
“On the average, somewhere in America one police officer is killed every 57
hours, or nearly one officer every other day,” Plano Chief of Police Greg
Rushin told the audience. “And for every officer killed, there are many more
that are seriously injured. Last year 153 peace officers gave their lives in
the line of duty in the United States, representing a 5.5% increase over the
previous year. Of that number, 14 were Texas law enforcement officers.”
Chief Rushin advised that over the past 20 years firearms have killed more
officers than any single cause, and this was no different in 2004. Out of
the 153 officers killed, 57 were shot to death, 52 died in auto accidents,
13 were struck by vehicles and 10 succumbed to job related illnesses. 9
Officers were killed in motorcycle accidents, 3 died in aircraft crashes, 3
from explosives, 3 drowned, 1 was electrocuted, 1 died from a fall and 1 was
killed by a falling object.
“When the deaths of officers are quantified and spoken of as statistics, we
must not forget that every one of these numbers represents a story of
courage, a story of strength and a story of dedication,” said Chief Rushin.
“We, in the Plano Police Department, are fortunate to have been spared such
a tragedy for so many years,” Chief Rushin told the assembly. “In fact, the
only Plano officer killed in the line of duty was Green W. Rye, in 1920,
during the burglary of the Plano National Bank. However, our jobs as police
officers is inherently dangerous, and at some point in our careers each of
us will face a potentially life threatening situation.”
Chief Rushin reminded the audience of the danger recently faced by the
Department when three gunmen robbed a bank in Richardson and were pursued
into Plano, where they fired automatic assault rifles at squad cars and
police officers during their escape.
“Even though officers knew they were outgunned and in an extremely dangerous
situation, they continued their attempt to capture the suspects. It takes
courage, it takes strength, and it takes dedication as a police officer to
face this type of adversity.”
Mayor Pat Evans, attending the ceremony with Councilmembers Scott Johnson,
Sally Magunuson, Harry LaRosiliere and Mayor Pro tem Ken Lambert, read a
Proclamation supporting both national Law Enforcement Appreciation Week (May
15-21) and Peace Officer Memorial Day (May 18).
“I call upon all citizens of the City of Plano to observe Wednesday, May 18,
2005 as Peace Officer Memorial Day in honor of those peace officers in the
State of Texas, and throughout the United States, who, through their
courageous deeds have lost their lives or have become disabled in the
performance of duty,” said Mayor Evans. “And we also take this time, all of
us, to thank our officers here today, in Plano, for all they do for us every
day of the year…always.”
The Peace Officer Memorial Day service was hosted by the Plano Police
Department, with the Dallas Metro Police and Fire Pipe and Drum Corp
performing the processional and the stirring “Amazing Grace,” prior to a
21-gun salute. The Plano Civic Chorus performed musical selections,
including “Sing Me to Heaven,” prior to the presentation of the memorial
wreath. The ceremony closed with an emotional rendition of taps, performed
on the bugle by Plano Police Department member Mark Speaker. Honor guards
from the McKinney Police Department and Collin County Sheriff’s Office also
participated. Refreshments were served after the ceremony by Plano’s
Citizens Police Academy Alumni.
Texas officers killed in the line of duty, January 2004 to present are
Sergeant Gregory Hunter, Grand Prairie PD; Officer Angel Barcena, El Paso
PD; Officer Darren Allen Medlin, Grapevine PD; Officer Nathan Laurie, River
Oaks PD; Sergeant James Michael Lane, Beaumont PD; Officer Christopher
Jerome Sobieski, Prairie View PD; Deputy Sheriff Dirk Knearum, Chambers Co.
SO; Lieutenant Robert Haley, Comanche Co. SO; Officer Amy Donovan, Austin
PD; Deputy Andy Taylor, Llano Co SO.
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