SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The City of Suffolk broke ground on a new police memorial outside of the Suffolk Police Headquarters Tuesday, according to the Suffolk Police Department.
On May 12, members from the Suffolk Police Department, as well as Suffolk Mayor Michael Duman, Councilmember John Rector and Suffolk City Manager Kevin Hughes, broke ground on the memorial. The groundbreaking coincides with National Police Week, running from May 10 to May 16.
The memorial will honor the following five fallen officers:
- Officer George T. Smith
- Chief William E. Brinkley
- Officer Joseph S. Pratt
- Officer William Andrew “Drew” Henley
- Sgt. Jose “Joe” R. Rivera
The memorial will serve as a place for the department’s members and the city’s residents to remember and honor the officers’ lives. It’s expected to be completed by September 2026.
“Having a place that our officers, their families, and our citizens can go to pay tribute to our men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice protecting our city and its citizens is very special,” Suffolk Police Chief James “Danny” Buie said in a statement. “This memorial will serve as that special place for our brothers and sisters who gave all.”
The project is funded through the Virginia DCJS Forfeited Asset Sharing Program…