California Peace Officers Memorial Day is Thursday
Written by James Bauman
Thursday, 15 May 2008
LAKE COUNTY – In October of 1962, President John F. Kennedy and the 87th Congress of the United States designated May 15 of each year as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week during which May 15 occurs each year, as National Police Week.
Lake County's fallen law enforcement officers
– Sheriff George W. Kemp, age 56: Shot and fatally wounded May 5, 1910, while investigating a report of a stolen saddle in Scotts Valley. He was elected sheriff in 1906.
– Deputy Sheriff William David Hoyt, age 52: Shot and fatally wounded on Oct. 11, 1967, at the Lake County Courthouse. A prisoner being led into the courtroom grabbed another deputy's gun and began firing. Hoyt retrieved a gun from a nearby counter and returned fire, wounding one of the prisoners. He later died of his wounds.
– Sgt. Richard J. Helbush, age 34: Shot and killed May 2, 1981, by Robert Cox, 39, and Annika Deasy, 27, during a traffic stop. Cox and Deasy were wanted for murder in Stockton. After shooting the 13-year sheriff's office veteran, they took his car and gun. They were later captured after a chase and gun battle with local deputies.
– Lake County News research
Twenty years later on May 15, 1982, 125 people attended the first National Peace Officers Memorial Day Service in Washington, DC. It was a relatively small service that honored 91 fallen peace officers however since that year, more than 3,000 law enforcement officers have been honored at the annual service.
In October of 1984, President Ronald Reagan signed into law the legislation that allowed the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund to begin raising money for a national monument to honor the fallen peace officers of America.
The resulting National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial was dedicated by President George Bush in October of 1991 in Washington DC and today, that Memorial Wall carries the names of over 14,000 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.
Today, more than ever, there is a heightened awareness of National Police Week and the sacrifices of law enforcement officers, past and present, who, by their selfless and courageous commitment to safeguard lives and property and enforce the laws of our nation, have fought for the country’s internal freedom from the fear of violence and civil disorder so prominent in other nations.
In conjunction with this national observance, the Lake County Board of Supervisors has proclaimed May 15 as California Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week of May 11 through May 17, 2008, as National Police Week in Lake County.
This week, millions of blue ribbons will be flown from car antennas of law enforcement agencies across the nation to call attention to National Police Week and to commemorate the thousands of noble men and women who have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty, as well as honor those who live on to dedicate their lives to the preservation of public safety in this country.
We encourage all Lake County citizens to also “fly the blue” to show support for the men and women who preserve the peace and enforce the laws of the State of California, every hour of every day.
James Bauman is the public information officer for the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
