Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond and Chattanooga Police Chief David Roddy on May 13 recognized local law enforcement personnel who were killed in the line of duty with a brief wreath laying ceremony at the Fallen Officer Monument downtown.
Each year, the U.S. president designates the second week of May as National Police Week and law enforcement agencies, elected officials and citizens across the nation recognize those who serve and honor the legacy and memory of the country’s fallen officers.
This celebration culminates on a national scale in Washington, D.C. with a formal ceremony at the National Law Enforcement Memorial.
Due to COVID-19 precautions, Hamilton County law enforcement agencies chose not to host a public law enforcement memorial ceremony, as they have done in the past.
“Even though COVID-19 has caused significant challenges for our community, including the cancellation of our normally scheduled ceremony, Chief Roddy and I felt it was important to recognize our fallen heroes,” Hammond said.
On average, one law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty somewhere in the U.S. every 61 hours. Since the first known line-of-duty death in 1791, more than 20,000 U.S. law enforcement officers have been killed on the job.
“Even though we were unable to host our traditional memorial ceremony this year, it’s still important for us to acknowledge these brave men and women and their families as we reflect on the sacrifices they made protecting our communities,” Roddy said.
Source: Office of the Hamilton County Sheriff