National Peace Officer Memorial Event
Every May 15, in honor of National Peace Officers Memorial Day, law enforcement agencies nationwide join hands to honor those brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice of giving their life in the line of duty. On average, one law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty somewhere in the United States every 53 hours. Since the first known in line of duty death in 1791, more than 19,000 U.S. law enforcement officers have made the ultimate sacrifice. Former President George Bush said, "It takes a special kind of person to serve in law enforcement. Most people run from danger. Law enforcement officers run towards it."
The Mono County Sheriff's Department hosted the first memorial ceremony, on the lawn in front of the Bridgeport courthouse on May 15, 2012, to honor the fallen law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in the Eastern Sierra. "We are here today to honor those brave men and women who went to work one day and never returned home," said Sheriff Richard C. Scholl to start the ceremony. "Unlike most other careers, the brave men and women who embark upon a life in law enforcement know fully that they might one day be called upon to lay down their lives in the call of duty."
Deputies and police officers representing Mono County Sheriff's Department; Inyo County Sheriff's Department; Mammoth Lakes Police Department; Bishop Police Department; California Highway Patrol; California Department of Fish and Game; Mountain Warfare Training Center Police Department; and Mono County Paramedics stood together to honor all the lives lost in the Eastern Sierra. A moment of silence was given to those fallen Eastern Sierra officers: Sheriff N.F. Scott (1862, MCSO); Sheriff Thomas Passmore (1878, ICSO); Sheriff William Moore (1879, ICSO); Deputy William Edwards (1907, MCSO); Constable Walter Reed (1912, ICSO); Sheriff James Dolan (1915, MCSO); Deputy Lemoyne Hazard (1925, ICSO); Inspector James Randolph, Jr. (1979, ICSO); Police Officer Richard Perkins (2001, Bishop PD); and Officer Paul Pino (2003, CHP).
"As we leave here today, have in your thoughts the men and women who go to work each day as the protectors of society never knowing if that day may be their last," stated Sheriff Richard C. Scholl as the ceremony concluded and the wreath was laid to honor those law enforcement officers of the Eastern Sierra who have made the ultimate sacrifice of giving their life in the line of duty. (Jennifer Hansen, Public Information Officer)
The significance of this event for the Mono County Sheriff's Department marks the 150th Anniversary of the first Sheriff of Mono County losing his life in the line of duty.
