FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – A ceremony honoring fallen law enforcement officers in Fresno County is set for this week.
Members of the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and other local agencies will gather Thursday at noon at the Peace Officers Memorial in Courthouse Park.
This year marks the 28th anniversary of the memorial.
The event also ties into National Police Week, a nationwide observance recognizing officers who made the ultimate sacrifice, with many wearing black bands over their badges in tribute.
President John F. Kennedy made the proclamation when he signed a bill into law on October 1st, 1962.
Much of the holiday centers on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C. The walls feature the names of the more than 20,000 law enforcement officers
who have been killed in the line of duty throughout U.S. history, dating back to 1791.
In 1997, the Fresno County Peace Officers’ Memorial Foundation (FCPOMF) began their planning to honor those City, County, State and Federal Peace Officers who gave their lives while performing their duties in Fresno County.
The names on the memorial date back to 1889. To date, the names of 64 men and women have been etched into the granite face of the Fresno County Peace Officers Memorial.
During National Police Week, the public will notice many law enforcement officers wearing black bands over their badges to honor those who died while serving their respective communities.
Listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern.
