Sheriff Sean Casey and Police Chief Don Hayes were joined by Jeremy Lenzner, President of the Alexandria Retired Police, Fire and Sheriff Association in placing a wreath at the Fallen Officers Memorial located within the park.
The memorial is inscribed with 16 names, dating back to Constable Elijah Chenault, who was the first reported officer killed in the city in 1823.
City Manager Jim Parajon attended the ceremony along with representatives from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police and US Park Police in honor of the city’s fallen police officers and sheriff’s deputies.
Sponsored by the Alexandria Retired Police, Fire and Sheriff Association, the ceremony was followed by a memorial service at First Assembly of God Church on West Braddock Road.
The previous day, a wreath laying ceremony was held at police headquarters in remembrance of the city’s 18 slain police officers.
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. Currently, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world converge on Washington, DC to participate in a series of events to honor those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
www.policeweek.org