Fallen Florida Law Officers Honored

May 5, 2015

Bagpipes played “Amazing Grace” at the state Capitol on Monday as hundreds of law-enforcement officers from across the state attended an annual memorial ceremony for fallen officers. The names of six officers were read aloud, and surviving family members each put a red rose on a map of Florida in memory of their loved ones.

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings, who had one of his deputies killed in the line of duty in 2014, said police have taken undue criticism in recent months from isolated incidents between law enforcement and citizens across the country.

“We have to be careful not to create an environment in this nation in which officers fail to act out of fear of criticism, when they should act,” Demings said. “That hesitation might cost them their life.”

Also Monday, the Florida Sheriffs Association held a ceremony that included adding three names of fallen officers to a memorial wall. Those three, who died in 2014, were Orange County Deputy Jonathan Scott Pine, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Officer Mark H. Larson and Leon County Deputy Christopher Smith.

by The News Service of Florida

Pictured top: A capitol ceremony Monday in Tallahasee to honor fallen law officers. Photo by Tom Urban, NSF, for NorthEscambia.com. Pictured below: Bagpipers play “Amazing Grace” in honor of fallen Florida law enforcement officers. Pictured inset: Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News