Annual service in Hughson salutes fallen law enforcement officers

While vowing never to forget those who gave their lives in the line of duty, speakers at the Stanislaus County Peace Officers Association memorial service Wednesday morning lauded the courage of those men and women who chose law enforcement as a profession and who serve and protect the public every day.

Scores of officers, along with law enforcement volunteers and support staff, family members of slain officers, military veterans and others, gathered at Lakewood Memorial Park.

Joseph A. Farrow, commissioner of the California Highway Patrol, was the keynote speaker. He told those gathered that it’s important “to never forget these heroes who run toward danger. ... The sacrifices made by these brave men and women serve as a constant reminder that we must never swerve from the line of duty. ... No speech or ceremony could ever bring back those we’ve lost, but they must never be forgotten.”

It was the third memorial service for fallen officers that Farrow had attended this week, having already been at a Capitol ceremony and the CHP’s own. He said he was honored to be invited to Stanislaus’ memorial and noted, “I have three officers with their names on that wall.” CHP Officers Earle Myron Ames (killed 1936), W.R. “Bob” Court (1970) and Earl H. Scott (2006) are among the law enforcement personnel who died in the line of duty in Stanislaus County since 1935 and are memorialized at Lakewood.

Other speakers included CHP Officer Matt Gisler, president of the Stanislaus County Peace Officers Association. He told families of the fallen officers, “We will always remember your loss and sacrifice ... please know you will always be a part of our law enforcement family.”

U.S. Rep Jeff Denham, R-Turlock, commended the men and women of law enforcement for showing “great bravery and courage every day, not knowing what they will face.” They are owed a debt of gratitude, he said, for “being our front line.”

Thirteen law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty in California in 2014. None was from Stanislaus County; Stockton police Officer Scott M. Hewell was killed June 11.

The roll call of the state’s fallen officers was read by CHP Capt. Andy Williams. The roll call of officers killed in Stanislaus County since 1935 was read by Sheriff Adam Christianson.

This story was originally published May 6, 2015 at 3:15 PM with the headline "Annual service in Hughson salutes fallen law enforcement officers."