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Engraving of Fallen Officers' Names on National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial to Begin April 21

Posted on: Thursday, 16 April 2009, 12:06 CDT

Officers from Prince George's County (MD), Los Angeles County (CA) and Pell City (AL) who died in 2008 are among the first names to be engraved this year on the nation's monument to fallen law enforcement officers

WASHINGTON, April 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Last June 27, Prince George's County Police Corporal Richard Findley was part of a team of officers attempting to stop and arrest the occupants of a stolen vehicle in Laurel, Maryland. Corporal Findley was intentionally struck and killed by the driver as he tried to flee police. The 10-year law enforcement veteran was promoted posthumously to the rank of sergeant by the Prince George's County Police Department.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090112/DC57979LOGO)

On Tuesday, April 21, Sergeant Findley's name will be inscribed on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial during the annual Engraving Day ceremony. Also being engraved on the Memorial during Tuesday's ceremony are the names of Los Angeles County (CA) Deputy Sheriff Juan Escalante, who was shot and killed last August 2, and Pell City (AL) Police Officer Kenneth Surles, who died last July 4 following an on-duty automobile accident.

They are among the first of 387 fallen law enforcement officers nationwide whose names are being added this month to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC.

WHAT: Engraving Day Ceremony

Brief remarks, followed by the engraving of the first panel of names

WHEN: April 21, 2009 - 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

E Street, between 4th and 5th Streets, NW

Washington, DC

WHO: NLEOMF Chairman and CEO Craig W. Floyd

Prince George's County Police Chief Roberto L. Hylton

Family members and colleagues of Sergeant Richard Findley

"Police officers dedicate their lives to working in an occupation where life and death too often meet. Sergeant Findley unfortunately lost his life while serving as a protector to the residents of Prince George's County," said Chief Hylton. "His life and death will be remembered by current and future generations of our police employees. We appreciate what he did to serve our community," the Chief said.

Added Mr. Floyd, "Sergeant Findley's life was all about helping others -- as a law enforcement officer, a volunteer firefighter, a devoted husband and father, and a colleague and friend. We are honored to remember his life and salute his service during this special ceremony and in perpetuity on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial."

Engraving Day occurs every April at the Memorial, which was dedicated in October 1991 as the nation's monument to law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. This year's ceremony marks the beginning of the 2009 engraving process, which lasts approximately two weeks. It symbolically commemorates the service and sacrifice of all of the officers whose names are engraved on the Memorial -- a total of 18,661 after this year's names are added.

The 387 names being engraved on the Memorial this spring include 133 officers who were killed in 2008 and 254 who died in previous years but whose stories had previously been lost to history. All 387 names will be formally dedicated on the Memorial during the 21st Annual Candlelight Vigil on the evening of May 13.

In addition to Sergeant Findley, Deputy Escalante and Officer Surles, the names of four other officers who died earlier in U.S. history are being engraved Tuesday on Panel 6-West, Line 27, of the Memorial: Patrolman Irving Baker, Warren (OH) Police Department, who died on January 6, 1933; Private John Fox, Texas Rangers, November 16, 1859; Deputy W.H. Kelly, Trinity County (TX) Sheriff's Office, April 24, 1911; and Special Agent Dirk Miller, Army Criminal Investigative Command, December 12, 1985.

Engraving of officers' names will continue through the end of April. Reporters interested in the engraving of other officers' names may contact Kevin Morison, (202) 737-7134 or kevin@nleomf.org, for details. For a complete list of officers whose names are being added to the Memorial this year, visit http://www.nleomf.org/TheMemorial/Facts/names2009.htm.

SOURCE National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

Source: PR Newswire

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