A solemn tribute to fallen officers in Naperville
Area law enforcement officers paid tribute to their fallen brethren on Tuesday, thankful that officer deaths are on the decline.
Local agencies held their annual Peace Officer Memorial Observance in Naperville as part of National Police Week.
"Certainly it is a dangerous job and it is appreciated when people recognize the dangers associated with it and honor those who had to give their lives," Naperville police Chief David Dial said after the ceremony.
There were 320 names added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. this year. Of those, 125 were killed in action in 2009 and 195 died before that time but just recently were identified, according to Dial.
He said police fatalities are at their lowest point since 1960. They had spiked in 2007 but have since been declining.
"That bad trend was certainly worth reversing so on a national level considerable emphasis was placed on training, policies, and equipment which have lowered the number of deaths," Dial told the crowd.
None of the 2009 fatalities are from DuPage County, but Tuesday's ceremony honored the 15 area officers killed in the line of duty since 1918 - Alfred Olin, Aurora; Harry F. Magers, Elmhurst; George Riehm, West Chicago; Paul H. Schwieger, Hinsdale; Robert Worthel, Naperville; Thompson Richardson, Aurora; Louis Schuetz, Lombard; John Frost, Lombard; Eugene Roberts, Illinois State Police; Raymond Wilson, West Chicago; Ronald E. Borg, Wheaton; Richard Barth, Downers Grove; Allan Mollsen, Lombard; John H. Kugelman, Illinois State Police and Michael A. Browning, West Chicago.
The observance also included a 21-gun rifle volley by the Carol Stream Police Honor Guard and a performance of "Amazing Grace" by the Naperville Police Pipes and Drums group. The Naperville Police Honor Guard conducted a wreath presentation and flag ceremony and David Mackey of Boy Scout Troop 8 played taps.
On Thursday, there will be a candlelight vigil in Washington, D.C. honoring officers who have lost their lives.
A little closer to home, Aurora will dedicate a memorial wall near its new police headquarters at 3 p.m. Friday, May 14, at 1200 E. Indian Trail Road. Aurora has lost two officers in the line of duty since 1918 - Alfred Olin and Thompson Richardson.