×

Remembering those who selflessly protect

Members of area law enforcement agencies are being joined by people from all walks of life in communities around the country to remember the men and women who have given their lives in the line of duty while serving in law enforcement.

The remembrances are being held as part of what traditionally has been National Police Week.

The list of those who have died in service to our community includes Leslie J. McDonald, Lafayette Mercer, Owen Burns, Scott Roe, Leonard Lamatrice and Thomas McGough of the Steubenville Police Department; William J. Snider and Michael Maguschak Sr. of the Mingo Junction Police Department; Benton Miller Sr. of the Toronto Police Department; and Michael Brandle of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department.

Each service offers a reminder that fighting crime is dangerous work for the more than 800,000 sworn law enforcement officers in the United States.

During the last 10 years, 1,763 officers have died in the line of duty, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. That means one officer has lost his or her life every 60 hours or so. In fact, more than 22,000 men and women have died in the line of duty since the first recorded police death in 1786.

Since that time, Texas has lost 2,046 officers in the line of duty, the most of any state. In our region, Pennsylvania has lost 1,086 officers, Ohio has lost 898 officers and West Virginia has lost 220 officers, the NLEOMF reports.

A total of 134 officers lost their lives in 2019, while 295 officers were killed in the line of duty in 2020.

Of those officers who lost their lives in 2019, the last year for which complete numbers are available, 50 were shot to death, 37 died of a job-related illness, 23 died in an automobile accident, 19 died after being struck by a vehicle, two were beaten to death, one was strangled to death, one drowned and one died in a motorcycle crash. Female officers accounted for 11 of those deaths.

All fallen officers were remembered during Thursday’s virtual candlelight vigil conducted by the NLEOMF. The event would have been one of several held during the annual recognition of police week in Washington, D.C., but COVID-19 restrictions have forced that remembrance to be moved to Oct. 13-17. Activities then will include an in-person candlelight vigil on Oct. 14, the C.O.P.S. National Survivors Conference on Oct. 15 and the 40th-annual National Peace Officers Memorial Service, conducted by the Grand Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, on Oct. 16.

While Weirton, which, thankfully, has never lost an officer in the line of duty, held its annual service Tuesday, Steubenville’s remembrance has been moved to October, according to Patrolman Jim Marquis, president of FOP Lodge 1.

We ask everyone to take a moment to remember the dedication and sacrifice of the men and women who work day and night, 365 days a year, to enforce our laws and keep our communities safe.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today