To honor and remember local law enforcement officers who gave their lives while serving the community, the Mansfield Police Honor Guard held a wreath placing ceremony Monday morning.
The ceremony was held in conjunction with National Police Week, which is recognized May 11 – May 17.
“We offer these wreaths in honor of all those who have fallen, wherever they have served,” said Chaplain Mark Dittmer.
One by one, officers marched through the hallway of the Mansfield Municipal Building and placed wreaths in front of the wall that displays the pictures of four Mansfield Police officers who died in the line of duty: Brian D. Evans, killed December 26, 2007; Michael R. Hutchison, killed February 6, 1976; William J. Taylor, killed February 26, 1949; and John Englehart Jr., killed August 7, 1893.
Putting one’s life at risk on a day-to-day basis “is something that we know about when we start this job, but it’s also something that every officer pretty much puts in the back of their mind and still goes out and does their job,” stated Lt. Rob Skropits.
According to a press release from the Mansfield Police Department, during 2013, 111 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty and 40 officers already this year. This was the fewest number of fatalities in 2013 for law enforcement professionals since 1959 when 110 officers died.
This year’s significant drop in law enforcement fatalities follows a three-year period when the number of officer deaths had seen an alarming increase. This was the fewest number of fatalities in 2013 for law enforcement professionals since 1959 when 110 officers died. There were 154 officer fatalities in 2010, 165 in 2011 and 127 in 2012.
In Mansfield, numerous police officers are assaulted each year while responding to more than 36,134 calls for service in addition to approximately 3,358 traffic stops.
“This is a way to honor [fallen officers],” said Skropits of the ceremony. “It’s a way to let their families know that we still remember the sacrifice that they gave, and for the citizens to realize the sacrifice that we’re out here making.”
The press release further noted that flags on all federal buildings will again fly at half-staff on May 15, commemorating Police Officers Memorial Day.
In 1994, President Clinton signed a law P.L. 103-322, requiring the American flag to be lowered on this day as a tribute to the more that 19,300 law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. This is among the rarest of honors. The only other regularly scheduled day that the flags fly at half-staff is Memorial Day. Like those in the armed services, fallen law enforcement officers died while protecting the lives and freedoms of others.
Putting one’s life at risk on a day-to-day basis “is something that we know about when we start this job, but it’s also something that every officer pretty much puts in the back of their mind and still goes out and does their job,” stated Lt. Rob Skropits.
