Law Enforcement Memorial Services Honor Those Officers Lost In the Line of Duty

Next week, May 9-15, thousands of people will gather in Washington D.C. in honor of National Police Week and National Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15). These people will honor and remember the lives of their family members, friends, and co-workers who have one thing in common—all have died in the line of duty. All of these officers are remembered for the valiant lives they led, serving the public, showing bravery in the most horrific circumstances, and being a role model to those in their communities. With each life lost, a husband/wife, son/daughter, father/mother, will never return home to see their families.

Today, May 7, 2010 on the State Capitol grounds, we honored the Kansas law enforcement officers lost in the line of duty. It is a solemn reminder of the dangers that those in this profession face. But, it is also a celebration to honor the lives of those lost. These officers who have been killed were the best of the best, and they died valiantly serving the public, doing what they loved.

Fallen Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian S. Etheridge will be added to the memorial this year. Deputy Etheridge died last September after being ambushed while responding to a larceny call, later determined to be a ploy to have an officer respond. Deputy Etheridge left behind a wife, Sarah, and young daughter, Natalie, who will forever miss him. His loss will forever be felt by his department and those who serve in law enforcement.

Like the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department, the Kansas Highway Patrol has experienced the grief felt when an officer is lost in the line of duty. In the history of the Patrol, we have lost 10 brave brothers in the line of duty. Some were killed by gunfire, and some died in traffic crashes. When an officer is lost in the line of duty, regardless of the cause, it creates a void that can never be filled. Each of these officers’ radio numbers have been retired, and we think of them often. Below is the list of our fallen officers. For more information on their service, please see our ‘In Memory’ page at: http://www.kansashighwaypatrol.org/memory/memorial.html.

Remembering our fallen officers…
• Trooper Maurice Plummer-EOW December 16, 1944
• Trooper Jimmie Jacobs-EOW October 6, 1959
• Trooper John McMurray-EOW December 9, 1964
• Lieutenant Bernard Hill-EOW May 28, 1967
• Sergeant Eldon Miller-EOW January 19, 1968
• Trooper James Thornton-EOW October 2, 1973
• Trooper Conroy O’Brien-EOW May 24, 1978
• Trooper Ferdinand “Bud” Pribbenow-EOW July 11, 1981
• Master Trooper Larry Huff-EOW November 26, 1993
• Master Trooper Dean Goodheart-EOW September 6, 1995

Please join the greater law enforcement community next week as National Police Week is recognized, and remember the sacrifices made by all of the fallen officers in the nation, so that our communities can be safe. For more information on National Police Week, go to: www.nleomf.org/programs/policeweek/ . You can also check with your local law enforcement agency to see if your community holds a Law Enforcement Memorial Service.