In honor of National Police Week, May 10-16, area law enforcement officials held a memorial service on Wednesday morning for those who have fallen in the line of duty.
According to Brownwood Police Chief Mike Corley, across the United States, there have been 127 officer deaths with 11 of those lives being lost in Texas. Corley stated that law enforcement are working to lower these numbers through the “Below 100 Initiative,” in hopes of bringing death toll to less than 100 officers in the nation in one calendar year. The last time less than 100 officers were killed in the line of duty nationwide was 1942, according to Corley. To date 2015 has seen 44 officers lost nationally, with 4 of those being Texas officers.Listed below, are the names of the Texas officers killed in the line of duty in 2014.
Marc Kelley – Trinity University Police Department
Charles David Dinwiddie – Killeen Police Department
Paul Aaron Buckles – Potter County Sheriff’s Office
Lee Dixon – Little River-Academy Police Department
Michael Pimentel – Elmendorf Police Department
Cleveland Johnson, Jr. – Precinct 2 Constables, Office, Titus County
Jessica Laura Hollis – Travis County Sheriff’s Office
Joe Naylor – Midland County Sheriff’s Office
Jesse Valdez III – Harris County Sheriff’s Office
Robert White – El Paso County Constable’s Office
Alejandro Martinez, Sr. – Willacy County Sheriff’s Office.
Howard Payne University Department of Public Safety Chief Paul Lilly read a poem, “A Part of America Died,” which illustrates the loss of an officer to his/her department, family, friends and community.
In honor of these officers, flags were lowered by Lieutenant Randall Krpoun (BPD), Patrolman Brandon McMillian (EPD), and Deputy John Fincher (Brown County Sheriff’s Office). Brownwood High School band members played Taps on the trumpet while the flags were lowered. Brown County Sheriff Bobby Grubbs and Chief Corley placed a red, white and blue memorial wreath in front of the flags (pictured at top).
During the ceremony, Chief Corley asked the public to do some important things this week.
“First, remember and honor our fallen officers; second, pray for the families and especially the children of these fallen officers; third, please take a moment to say thank you to officers for what they do,” asked Corley. “Please take a moment to remember the community of Killeen, they need our thoughts and prayers.”
HPU DPS Chief Paul Lilly reads the poem “A Part of America Died.”
Brown County Water Improvement District Chief Troy Henderson reads the roll call of fallen officers.
Flags are lowered by Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy John Fincher and Early Police Officer Brandon McMillian.
