Fallen law-enforcement officers were honored this morning in front of the Civic Auditorium in a memorial service conducted by the Emporia Police Department.
Before the service began, a procession of officers marched from the Emporia Police Department and lined along one side of the lawn. Two officers raised the national flag, then lowered it and raised it back to half staff.
The names of fallen area law officer were read aloud, as well as the names of Kansas officers killed in the line of duty from 1999 to 2009. Those 12 fallen officers were Deputy Sheriff James R. Kenney, Clay County Sheriff’s Office; Deputy Sheriff Todd Michael Widman, Brown County Sheriff’s Office; Officer Jeff William Howey, Topeka Police Department; Officer Charles Joseph Bohlender Jr., Topeka Police Department; Lt. John Eugene Galvin, Wichita Police Department; Officer Wilson Alex Johnson, Wichita Police Department; Investigator Bret Duane Tepe, Ford County Sheriff’s Office; Sheriff Matthew Haden Samuels, Greenwood County Sheriff’s Department; Deputy Sheriff Kurt Andrew Ford, Harvey County Sheriff’s Office; Deputy Cory Allen Ricks, Seward County Sheriff’s Department; Sheriff James Leroy Johnson, Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office; Officer Robert (Tim) Buckman, Macksville Police Department.
Emporia Police Chief Gary Smith said he has carried the tradition of having a law enforcement memorial wherever he has worked.
“It’s important for our officers to be recognized and an opportunity for them to recognize their fallen brothers and sisters,” Smith said.
Smith said it also gives a different face to law enforcement and gives an opportunity for retired officers to come back and interact with the community.