SACRAMENTO — Thousands of law enforcement officials showed up in Sacramento to honor those killed in the line of duty. The annual California Peace Officers’ Memorial ceremony was a moving tribute to those who gave their all.
It’s a procession that proves poignant: a riderless horse in honor of the men and women who died in the line of duty the preceding year, their families following by walking from the west steps of the California State Capitol to the nearby Peace Officers Memorial monument. Some of those honored are also enrolled from previous years.
“It is an effort to illustrate to the families just how important their loved ones were to us as a community, a law enforcement community,” said Captain Patrick Foy of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Capt. Foy said that 16 of the 1,600 officers remembered over the years were from his division.
“We have known that pain and how meaningful it is to the families when you have this type of turnout to show the support for those sacrifices made,” he said.