Seven Mich. Officers Added To National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial
DETROIT (WWJ) - As thousands of law enforcement officers, survivors and other supporters gather in Washington, DC, this May for National Police Week 2011, they will be paying special tribute to the 316 law enforcement heroes whose names are being added to the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial this year.
The names include 152 law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty during 2010 plus 164 officer deaths from previous years.
Michigan officers whose names will be engraved on the memorial in Washington D.C. are:
- William M. Scudder - Barry County Sheriff's Office, May 14, 1884
- George Davidson - Ontonagon County Sheriff's Office, Nov. 23, 1893
- Ervin Michael Hawk Johnston I - Livonia Police Department, Jan. 19, 2007
- David Lucious Williams - City of Flint Police Department, Feb. 24, 2009
- James David Bonneau - Jackson Police Department, March 9, 2010
- Brian Eric Huff - Detroit Police Department, May 3, 2010
- Matthew Lloyd Edwards, Taylor Police Department, July 23, 2010
Including this year's officers, the number of names engraved on the Memorial's walls now totals 19,298 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, US territories, and federal law enforcement and military police agencies.
In 2010, Texas once again led the nation in law enforcement officer deaths with 16, followed by California with 11, and Florida, Georgia and Illinois each with 9 officer deaths.
All causes of fatalities increased in 2010 including gunfire and traffic incidents.
Of the 71 traffic-related fatalities in 2010, 50 officers died in automobile crashes, 14 were struck and killed by automobiles while outside of their vehicles, 1 died in a bicycle accident and 6 died in motorcycle crashes.
Firearm fatalities increased 20 percent, from 49 deaths in 2009 to 59 in 2010.
Even more alarming, multiple fatality shootings accounted for nearly 20 percent of all fatal shootings. Five incidents occurred in: Fresno, CA, San Juan, PR, West Memphis, AR, Tampa, FL, and Hoonah, AK, accounting for 10 officer deaths.
Police Week 2011 kicks off the week of May 15th, preempted by the 23rd annual Candlelight Vigil set for 8:00 pm Friday, May 13th. The 316 names being engraved on the Memorial will be officially dedicated during the vigil. Click here to watch the vigil.
Each year, an estimated 20,000 people attend the Candlelight Vigil, one of the most spectacular and emotional events of National Police Week.
For a complete list of names added to the memorial this year organized by state visit lawmemorial.org.
