May 30, 2017 -- Editor’s Note: “In the Line of Duty” is the first in a series highlighting the city’s Law Enforcement Memorial Week activities, which were held to commemorate the ultimate sacrifices of local police officers, who died in the line of duty.
A capacity crowd of law enforcement officers, family members and program participants filled Albany State University’s L. Orene Hall to remember and honor the city’s fallen police officers in the annual Law Enforcement Memorial Week ceremony, recently.
Uniformed officers from Albany and Dougherty County Police Departments, Dougherty County Sheriff’s Department as well as Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany’s Marine Corps Police Department stood as vigilante guards behind five veil-covered, floral wreaths set to commemorate those lost.
Michael Persley, chief, APD, welcomed attendees to the observance; remarked on the significance of the event and discussed the sacrifices of the slain police officers.
“Thank you all for participating in this program,” Persley said. “‘All of us give some, and some of us gave all.’ I want to thank the families of the officers who gave their lives in the line of duty.
“Our jobs are very stressful and we’re the ones who stand in the face of danger on a constant day,” Persley added. “Think about the officers who do stand in the face of danger every day; think about the officers who gave their all, but most of all, think about the families and the sacrifices (they) have made.
“This is not a moment to ever forget,” Persley stressed. “This is a moment to always remember that those of us who stand in the gap are standing there, because this is our service to the community and it’s also for the families who support us.”
Pastor Ken Bevel, Sherwood Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia, guest speaker for the memorial, told a story and linked the analogy as a representation of the sacrifices fallen law enforcement officers made. Read more on Bevel’s comments in the second article in this series.
During “Roll Call” for the slain officers, fellow law enforcement personnel and some attending family members added a single carnation to the commemoration wreaths as the names of each of the officers were called.
The event included a “Last Call” transmission from the Albany 911 Communications Center over a police ban radio; retired military bugler, Joe Maxey, playing “Taps,” and Dan Gillan, retired Marine colonel, rendering several bagpipes musical selections during the ceremony.
Several Albany-Dougherty County officials as well as MCLB Albany law enforcement personnel attended the event and participated in the memorial ceremony.
To view more photos from the local event, visit MCLB Albany’s Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Marine-Corps-Logistics-Base-Albany-512695405469372/.