Fallen officers honored for 'ultimate sacrifice'

They made the ultimate sacrifice.

Some 155 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty this past year in the United States, and their peers here honored them Thursday evening with a Peace Officers Memorial Ceremony.

The Sedalia Police Department hosted the 12th annual service at City Hall as part of National Police Week. Attending the service were officers from the Police Department, Pettis County Sheriff’s Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol and Whiteman Air Force Base’s 509th Security Forces Squadron and Office of Special Investigations Detachment 207.

“Each year we honor and pay tribute to our brothers and sisters in law enforcement who were killed in the line of duty,” said Sedalia Police Chief John DeGonia. “This ceremony is our way of expressing our gratitude for their dedication. It is also an offering of our deepest sympathy to the families and friends of those who died in the line of duty.”

About 70 other city officials, family of officers and others attended the service. Mary Stephens, 79, of Sedalia, attended to “remember all the ones who have lost their lives.”

“It was a beautiful service,” she said. “I come every year.”

Several officers took turns reading the 155 names, agencies and states of the fallen officers. A projector showed the photos of each officer on a screen. The Police Department’s honor guard performed a 21-gun salute, the flag was raised to half staff, and taps were played.

DeGonia said the service reminds him “There’s no routine call.”

“It makes you think there’s 155 people who won’t be going home to their family and friends,” he said.
Sgt. Ron Miller, who has been a Sedalia police officer for 21 years, said it reminds him that every time he leaves for work, he may not return.
“In this business, there’s no predicting what your shift holds in store,” he said.