Group seeks relatives of fallen officers

The Seniors and Lawmen Together council is looking for family members of Southeast Missouri police officers killed in the line of duty for an upcoming memorial honoring them.

The event will mark the 10th year of Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony and the fourth year SALT has been involved in the program.

Eighteen officers, going back as far as 1875, will be recognized during the ceremony at 10 a.m. May 11 at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Campus Nature Center.

Families of fallen officers are invited to attend.

"This year we're making a concerted effort to find family members," said Cape Girardeau police Capt. Roger Fields.

Its been challenging for SALT to locate some officer's relatives in part due to the dates the officers were in service. In other instances family members have relocated and haven't been found yet by SALT members.

Of the 18 officers to be honored next month, SALT is asking the public contact the Cape Girardeau police department if they have information pertaining to family members of six officers so they can be invited to attend the memorial: Jimmy Carr, Scott County sheriff's deputy, died Jan. 15, 1875; William Sprinkle, Dexter Police Department, died Feb. 29, 1892; Albert Demortiers, Cape Girardeau Police Department, died Oct. 22, 1917; Willis Martin, Cape Girardeau Police Department, died Feb. 27, 1921; Herbert Goss, Cape Girardeau Police Department, died March 10, 1961; Donald Crittendon, Cape Girardeau Police Department, died March 21, 1961.

Calls can be made to Fields at 335-6621, extension 1003.