FRESNO (KMJ) — Fresno County’s Peace Officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty are being memorialized for sacrificing their lives for our safety.
In Downtown Fresno’s Courthouse Park stands the Fresno County Peace Officers Memorial. On it are inscribed the names of all the officers from every agency operating in the county who have been killed in the line of duty. The latest additions to the memorial are CHP Officers Brian Law and Juan Gonzalez – who died February 2014 as they were responding to a traffic collision on Highway 99.
Keeping our world safe is a dangerous job – and officers say every time you speak to somebody you have no idea if it’s going to end well – or end badly. “We don’t know how anybody’s going to react to it”, says CHP Officer Johnny Fisher. “It’s just their own personal way”.
But when tragedy struck the CHP just over a year ago – he says the support from everyone was overwhelming. “When this did happen – you saw a total outpouring of love and support. It was just unmatched. It was unbelievable”.
Fresno County Board of Supervisors have declared Thursday May 7th as ‘Peace Officer’s Memorial Day’ to remember everyone who gave their lives for the people. A ceremony taking place in Courthouse Park at the Peace Officers Memorial is set to be this Thursday at noon.
It comes ahead of Peace Officers’ Memorial Day – observed on May 15th – which pays tribute to local, state and federal law enforcement officers – which in itself takes place during National Police Week. President John F. Kennedy made the proclamation October 1962. Much of the holiday centers on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C., and the walls of that memorial feature the names of the more than 17,000 law enforcement officers who have been killed in the line of duty.
During National Police Week – some officers will be seen wearing black bands over their badges to honor those who died while serving their communities.
