The Metropolitan King County Council joined communities across the United States in recognition of National Police Week. The annual celebration — celebrated this year from May 13-19 — recognizes and honors those law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as the family members, friends and fellow officers they left behind.
This year, the names of 360 officers killed in the line of duty are being added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC. These 360 officers include 129 officers who were killed during 2017, plus 231 officers who died in previous years but whose stories of sacrifice had been lost to history until now.
Two members of the law enforcement community in Washington State will be added to the National Memorial. Kalama Police Department Chief of Police Randall Scott Gibson passed away on January 10, 2017 and Mason County Chief Deputy Fred Hickson who passed away on June 29, 1944.
There are approximately 900,000 law enforcement officers currently in the U.S. Since the first recorded death in 1791, over 20,000 law enforcement officers—representing cities, counties, states, and federal agencies in the United States—have died in the line of duty.
4,000 men and women are in law enforcement in King County, serving 39 cities, three Tribal Governments, the University of Washington, and nearly 250,000 residents living in unincorporated communities.
In 1853, King County Deputy Wesley Cherry was the first King County law officer to lose their life in the line of duty. Since Cherry, 18 King County Sheriff’s officers have fallen in the line of duty. The King County Sheriff’s Office Memorial, located in the King County Courthouse, honors their sacrifice. This month, two more names were added to the memorial, Special Deputy George H. Yeaman, Jr. and Special Deputy John Frederick Mines. Both fell in the line of duty while conducting an aerial search on July 19, 1946.
Each year, Washington State adds names of officers who lost their lives in the line of duty to the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial in Olympia. In 2018 three names were added to that memorial: Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputy Daniel McCartney who passed away on January 8, 2018, Kent Police Officer Derrick W. Focht who passed away on April 7, 2017, and Mason County Sheriff’s Deputy Fred Hickson who passed away on June 29, 1944.
“Today we join jurisdictions across our nation in recognizing the service and sacrifice of those in law enforcement,” said Councilmember Reagan Dunn.
“18 King County Sheriff’s Officers have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Their names are forever memorialized as you enter the King County Courthouse 3rd Avenue entrance. It’s fitting to remember our local law enforcement officers on a week that remembers those who dedicate their lives for the protection of others.”
This year, the names of 360 officers killed in the line of duty are being added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC. These 360 officers include 129 officers who were killed during 2017, plus 231 officers who died in previous years but whose stories of sacrifice had been lost to history until now.
Two members of the law enforcement community in Washington State will be added to the National Memorial. Kalama Police Department Chief of Police Randall Scott Gibson passed away on January 10, 2017 and Mason County Chief Deputy Fred Hickson who passed away on June 29, 1944.
There are approximately 900,000 law enforcement officers currently in the U.S. Since the first recorded death in 1791, over 20,000 law enforcement officers—representing cities, counties, states, and federal agencies in the United States—have died in the line of duty.
4,000 men and women are in law enforcement in King County, serving 39 cities, three Tribal Governments, the University of Washington, and nearly 250,000 residents living in unincorporated communities.
In 1853, King County Deputy Wesley Cherry was the first King County law officer to lose their life in the line of duty. Since Cherry, 18 King County Sheriff’s officers have fallen in the line of duty. The King County Sheriff’s Office Memorial, located in the King County Courthouse, honors their sacrifice. This month, two more names were added to the memorial, Special Deputy George H. Yeaman, Jr. and Special Deputy John Frederick Mines. Both fell in the line of duty while conducting an aerial search on July 19, 1946.
“National Police Week is an opportunity for communities across the country to recognize the incredible bravery and sacrifice of those who put themselves in harm’s way to protect others,” said King County Sheriff Mitzi Johanknecht.
“I recently had the great honor of adding two special deputies, who lost their lives in 1946 while searching for a crashed plane, to the King County Sheriff’s Office Memorial Wall. I’m proud of our Sheriff’s Officers and am glad this recognition celebrates their hard work.”
Each year, Washington State adds names of officers who lost their lives in the line of duty to the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial in Olympia. In 2018 three names were added to that memorial: Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputy Daniel McCartney who passed away on January 8, 2018, Kent Police Officer Derrick W. Focht who passed away on April 7, 2017, and Mason County Sheriff’s Deputy Fred Hickson who passed away on June 29, 1944.
At least Shoreline did that. The city of LFP apparently couldn't be bothered to do a proclamation or even drop the city flag to half mast on National Law Enforcement Memorial Day, even though directed by federal law. Shame on LFP!
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