SERVICE HONORS FALLEN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

Law enforcement officers gathered Thursday at Cape Girardeau County Park to remember their comrades who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

Officers placed roses at the base of the memorial that bears the names of the 10 local officers who have died on duty since 1875. Over 14,000 names are engraved on a memorial in Washington, which was also home to a national memorial service Thursday.

Dr. Bill Bourns, a criminal justice professor at Southeast Missouri State University and president of Seniors and Lawmen Working Together, or SALT, was one of the coordinators of the memorial.

Of the 116 officers slain in 1996 and the 10 who have died in this area, Dr. Bill Bourns, said: "This is the core confrontation of officers walking down a dark street, not knowing what lies ahead. There is a code of ethics among law enforcement officers and that code of ethics shines brightly."

Law enforcement leaders spoke at the ceremony, including Cape Girardeau County Sheriff John Jordan, Cape Girardeau Police Chief Rick Hetzel and Jackson Police Chief Marvin Sides.

"Anyone in America, without putting in a quarter, can pick up a phone and call 9-1-1," Hetzel said to the group. "A young man or young woman will then come and lay down their lives to defend yours."

Hetzel led the other officers in a salute to their slain colleagues.

Jordan said that the fallen officers should not be remembered for how they died, but how they lived.

He said that law enforcement officers are "like a rare animal, they seem callous but inside they are compassionate and willing to make the supreme sacrifice."

New statistics show that the 116 officers killed in the line of duty in 1996 were the fewest since 1959, when 95 were killed. By comparison, 162 law enforcement officers were killed in 1995.

Crediting the improvement to better training, beefed-up forces, and officers having pride, Bourns said that the streets are a safer place because of the officers who have sacrificed their lives.

"They are the thin, blue line," Bourns said. "They represent us out there 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And they all have great pride. You can almost see that in their eyes."

The memorial was constructed and dedicated by the Fraternal Order of Police.

"Sometimes it can be a thankless job," said Cape Girardeau police detective Ken Rinehart after the ceremony.

"Officers should be remembered," he said. "This is a memorial for them and their families for the great sacrifice they made."