DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF)- On the 5th year anniversary, the Dallas Police Department hosted a memorial to honor and remember the five officers who died in the line of duty on July 7th, 2016 as well as other officers who made that same sacrifice.
“With this memorial we preserve and honor their memory and the sacrifices of the families who have given our city such heroes,” said DPD Lieutenant Brian Payne.
The City of Dallas has proclaimed July 7th as Police Memorial Day.
Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Chad West read the proclamation on behalf of Mayor Eric Johnson. He ordered the Dallas flag to be lowered at half mass on all city buildings to honor and pay tribute to the officers who were killed in the ambush 5 years ago.
“They paid the ultimate sacrifice in the performance of their duties and oaths as law enforcement officers while protecting the citizens of Dallas,” said West. “This ambush, at the time, represented the deadliest incident of law enforcement officers in the nation since the attack on September 11th, 2001” he said.
Officers marched from Griffin Street and Young Street to the police memorial outside Dallas City Hall for the ceremony. It included a performance by the Dallas Police Choir, the reading of the “Roll Call of Honor,” 21-gun salute, Taps, and a fly over by the Dallas Police Helicopter.
“Time will march onward and so must we but that doesn’t mean we will forget. It doesn’t mean we give up and honor them any less. It means the opposite,” said Assistant Chief Albert Martinez.
Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia said he remembers watching the events unfold on TV while serving as Chief of Police in California.
“I can assure you Dallas you were not alone that day and you are not alone today. As we couldn’t imagine the again you all felt as a San Jose chief them and now blessed in having the honor of being your chief today, having a front row seat at the amazing work you do thousand understand your anguish and feel your collective pain,” said Garcia.
Garcia thanked all officers for the sacrifices they make to protect the city. He said every day an officer puts on their the uniform, they make the fallen proud.
“I have used this quote several times but it rings so true. The late Ronald Reagan once said ‘Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid.’ You heroes were both good and they were truly unafraid,” he said.
