In Remembrance of Service and Sacrifice, County Council Recognizes National Peace Officers Memorial Day

May 15, 2019

Summary

“Everyday men and women put on the badge, willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to keep our communities safe.”

Story

The Metropolitan King County Council today joined communities across the United States in remembering the service and sacrifice of fallen law enforcement officers with its recognition of National Peace Officers Memorial Day.

This day of remembrance occurs during National Police Week, which honors those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty, as well as the family members, friends, and fellow officers they left behind. This year, National Police Week is May 12-18.

“National Peace Officers Day is a chance for us to show our gratitude and respect to the officers who risk their lives every day,” said Council Vice Chair Reagan Dunn. “The day is especially poignant this year as Mayor Ralph, along with representatives from the Kent Police Department and the Kent community, is in D.C. to give witness to the memorialization of Kent Police Officers Derrick William Focht and Diego Moreno.”

This year, the names of 371 officers killed in the line of duty are being added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC. These 371 officers include 158 officers who were killed during 2018, plus 213 officers who died in previous years but whose stories of sacrifice had been lost to history until now.

Four members of the law enforcement community in Washington State, including two officers from the City of Kent, will be added to the National Memorial:

• Officer Derrick William Focht of the Kent Police Department who died in the line of duty on April 7, 2017;
• Special Agent Timothy Ensley of the Homeland Security Department who passed away of a duty related illness on June 24, 2018;
• Officer Diego Moreno of the Kent Police Department died in the line of duty on July 22, 2018;
• Deputy Daniel Alexander McCartney of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department who died in the line of duty on January 8, 2018.

“Everyday men and women put on the badge, willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to keep our communities safe,” said Kent Mayor Dana Ralph. “This is a time for mourning and reflection to honor those who were taken from us far too soon. Our community stands in solidarity with the Kent Police Department as we remember Officer Diego Moreno and all the officers who have given their lives to keep us safe.”

There are approximately 900,000 law enforcement officers currently in the U.S. Since the first recorded death in 1786, over 21,000 law enforcement officers—representing cities, counties, states, and federal agencies in the United States—have died in the line of duty.

4,000 men and women are in law enforcement in King County, serving 39 cities, 3 Tribal Governments, the University of Washington, and nearly 250,000 residents living in unincorporated communities.

In 1853, King County Deputy Wesley Cherry was the first King County law officer to lose his life in the line of duty. Since Cherry, 18 King County Sheriff’s officers have fallen in the line of duty. The King County Sheriff’s Office Memorial, located in the King County Courthouse, honors their sacrifice.

Last month, the King County Sheriff’s Office dedicated a new memorial recognizing the county’s four-footed officers who have served their communities. The memorial honors the 60 K-9 Officers and their Deputy partners for their faithful service, including 13 active duty dogs and 10 retired dogs.

“Today, we remember all of the Deputies who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Their ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten.” said Sheriff Mitzi Johanknecht. “I want to personally thank the men, women and K-9’s of the King County Sheriff’s Office, past and present, for all their hard work and dedication to the Sheriff’s Office and the community members we serve.”

Each year, Washington State adds names of officers who lost their lives in the line of duty to the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial in Olympia. In 2019, two names were added to that memorial: Kent Police Officer Diego Moreno who passed away on July 22, 2018, and Homeland Security Special Agent Timothy Ensley who passed away on June 24, 2018.

Representatives from the King County Sheriff’s Office and the Kent Police Department join Councilmembers as the Council proclaimed May 12-18 ‘Police Week’ in King County.

 

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PROCLAMATION

 

WHEREAS, since 1962, May 15 has been recognized as National Peace Officers Memorial Day in recognition of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice while protecting others in the line of duty, and the week in which this day falls is named National Police Week, which is May 12-18 this year; and

WHEREAS, approximately 900,000 law enforcement officers serve in communities across the nation, and so far this year, 43 brave officers have fallen in the line of duty; and

WHEREAS, since the first recorded law enforcement death in King County of Deputy Wesley Cherry in 1853, 97 county-based officers have made the ultimate sacrifice, with 18 of these being members of the King County Sheriff’s Office and a King County Sheriff K-9 Officer; and

WHEREAS, the King County Sheriff’s Office Memorial, located in the King County Courthouse, and the King County Sheriff’s Office’s K-9 Memorial, dedicated on April 16, 2019, honors their sacrifice; and

WHEREAS, 371 new names of fallen heroes are being added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial this spring, including 158 officers killed in 2018 and 213 officers killed in previous years; and

WHEREAS, on May 13, 2019, these names were added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial: Derrick William Focht of the Kent Police Department who passed away on April 7, 2017; Daniel Alexander McCartney of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department who passed away on January 8, 2018; Homeland Security Special Agent Timothy Ensley who passed away on June 24, 2018; and Diego Moreno of the Kent Police Department who passed away on July 22, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Homeland Security Special Agent Timothy Ensley, who passed away on June 24, 2018, and Kent Police Officer Diego Moreno, who passed away on July 22, 2018, have been honored and their names forever memorialized on the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial;

NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Metropolitan King County Council, proclaim May 12-18, 2019, as

POLICE WEEK

in King County and salute the service of law enforcement officers in our community and across the nation.

DATED this fifteenth day of May, 2019.