Remembering Law Enforcement's Fallen Officers

This week, law enforcement officers from Fort Worth, Mesquite, and the Texas Department of Public Safety are traveling to Washington, D.C., to take part in a memorial service during National Police Week to honor their colleagues who died serving their communities.

They are traveling to the nation's Capital to participate in National Police Week events, held May 11-17, including a candlelight vigil Friday on the National Mall. Their names were recently added to a memorial wall honoring law enforcement who have died in the line of duty.

Among the honored officers is Mesquite Police Department officer Richard Houston, who died responding to a disturbance call in December 2021. Houston was just shy of his 21st year with the department, having joined in January 2001. His wife and three children are being flown to Washington, D.C., to attend the vigil on May 13.

The Brotherhood For The Fallen Fort Worth, the Fort Worth Police Department and the Fort Worth Police Officer Association partnered with Hillwood Airways to send officers from the Texas Department of Public Safety, Mesquite Police Department, Fort Worth Police Department, and Fayetteville Arkansas Police Department to honor their fallen officers in Washington, D.C., for National Police Week.

You can watch a video clip of the send-off on Wednesday, May 11 here

Roll Call of Heroes Honored in 2022

Among the 619 American law enforcement added to this year’s memorial wall in Washington, D.C., are 86 Texas peace officers, listed below by name, department, end of watch, and panel/line:

  • ERIC SHAWN LINDSEY Austin, Texas, P.D. 12/5/2021 13-E -33
  • STEVE URIAS Austin, Texas, P.D. 8/26/2021 44-E -32
  • RANDOLPH BOYD JR Austin, Texas, P.D. 8/25/2021 1-W -33
  • LEWIS ANDREW TRAYLOR Austin, Texas, P.D. 7/28/2021 16-W -33
  • JUAN ALFONSO DELGADO Bay City, Texas, P.D. 7/15/2021 24-W -33
  • ESTEBAN RAMIREZ III Bell County, Texas, S.O. 2/16/2021 51-W -33
  • SAMUEL ALEXANDER LEONARD Concho County, Texas, S.O. 5/10/2021 6-W -33
  • STEPHEN GEORGE JONES Concho County, Texas, S.O. 5/10/2021 6-W -33
  • CLINTON JOSEPH VENTRCA Corinth, Texas, P.D. 6/20/2021 47-W -33
  • SCOTT PAUL HARN Dallas, Texas, P.D. 11/2/2021 26-E -33
  • ARNULFO PARGAS Dallas, Texas, P.D. 9/23/2021 50-W -33
  • DAVID EDWARD RUIZ Dallas, Texas, P.D. 8/22/2021 17-E -33
  • MITCHELL AARON PENTON Dallas, Texas, P.D. 2/13/2021 54-W -33
  • ROLAND ASEBEDO Denton County, Texas, Emergency Services 9/13/2021 17-W -33
  • OLEN CHESTER PASS Denton, Texas, P.D. 11/29/1941 29-E -33
  • RODNEY LANE MOONEYHAM Denton, Texas, P.D. 10/16/2021 26-W -33
  • WILLIAM LYLE GARDNER Denver City, Texas, P.D. 1/7/2021 44-W -33
  • CAMERINO SANTIAGO El Paso, Texas, P.D. 1/11/2021 16-E -33
  • JONATHAN ANDRE TERRAZAS El Paso, Texas, P.D. 9/1/2021 45-E -32
  • JAMES EARL DEMENT JR Friendswood, Texas, P.D. 12/27/2021 15-W -33
  • MICHELLE BETH GATTEY Georgetown, Texas, P.D. 9/16/2021 6-W -33
  • ANDREW R MACDONALD Grand Prairie, Texas, P.D. 10/18/2021 28-W -33
  • DUSTY L WAINSCOTT Grayson County, Texas, S.O. 9/8/2021 43-W -33
  • RICHARD ANTHONY SEPOLIO SR Harris County, Texas, District Attorney's Office 1/13/2021 59-E -32
  • KAREEM ANTHONY ATKINS Harris County, Texas, C.O., Pct. 4 10/16/2021 38-W -33
  • TOMAS INFANTE SR Harris County, Texas, C.O., Pct. 6 8/22/2021 62-W -33
  • JOSHUA JAMES SIEMAN Harris County, Texas, S.O. 10/21/2021 42-E -32
  • SHAUN CHRISTOPHER WATERS Harris County, Texas, S.O. 8/1/2021 43-E -32
  • ALEXANDER DAVID GWOSDZ Harris County, Texas, S.O. 4/22/2021 43-E -32
  • ROBERT PEREZ Harris County, Texas, S.O. 2/2/2021 1-W -33
  • JAMES NATHANIEL HENRY Hays County, Texas, S.O. 8/27/2021 60-E -32
  • SHERRY KAY LANGFORD Henderson County, Texas, C.O., Pct. 1 1/14/2021 14-W -33
  • WILLIAM JOHN JEFFREY Houston, Texas, P.D. 9/20/2021 21-E -33
  • JOHN DAVID WILBANKS Houston, Texas, P.D. 10/13/2021 41-W -33
  • SHERMAN OTTO BENYS JR Kingsville, Texas, P.D. 11/4/2021 31- E-33
  • NOAH RYAN LEBLANC SR Laguna Vista, Texas, P.D. 9/13/2021 44-E -32
  • JOSHUA BARTLETT Lubbock County, Texas, S.O. 7/15/2021 30-W -33
  • RICHARD LEE HOUSTON II Mesquite, Texas, P.D. 12/3/2021 51-E -32
  • PEDRO J MEJIA Pasadena, Texas, P.D. 2/6/2021 21-E -33
  • CLAY EUGENE GARRISON Port of Galveston, Texas, P.D. 8/25/2021 46-W -33
  • JOSEPH ANTHONY CISNEROS JR San Antonio, Texas, P.D. 2/1/2021 37-W -33
  • CYRUS ABEL Shackelford County, Texas, C.O., Pct. 4 06/30/1800 48-E -32
  • KUO-SHENG WANG South Houston, Texas, P.D. 8/19/2021 47-E -32
  • WILLIAM HOWARD GUDGELL SR Tarrant County, Texas, S.O. 9/17/2021 2-E -33
  • THOMAS SCOTT COLLORA Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 10/5/2021 48-E -32
  • MELISSA RUTH MALDONADO Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 10/3/2021 38-W -33
  • CHARLES RONALD HUGHES Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 9/25/2021 19-E -33
  • CONNELL FOREMAN Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 9/25/2021 60-E -32
  • CLEADAS GILBERTO SHERMAN Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 9/22/2021 55-E -32
  • CHRISTOPHER DAMON WATSON SR Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 9/15/2021 50-E -32
  • JOSE ANGEL HERNANDEZ Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 9/13/2021 9-W -33
  • SHAD EUGENE HAMMOND Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 9/13/2021 18-W -33
  • ECHO RODRIGUEZ Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 9/12/2021 47-E -32
  • CODIE WHITLEY-TURNER Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 9/9/2021 45-W -33
  • GLENN R SKEENS JR Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 9/7/2021 33-W -33
  • HUEY PEARCE PRYMUS III Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 9/5/2021 31-W-33
  • HONORATO ANTONES Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 9/3/2021 17-E -33
  • LAKEISHA MONIQUE BRANTLEY Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 8/31/2021 47-W -33
  • JOE MARTIN OLIVARES Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 8/18/2021 46-W -33
  • DANIEL JOSEPH GIORGI Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 7/25/2021 28-W -33
  • JIMMY GARCIA Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 4/15/2021 18-E -33
  • LUIS ARTURO HERNANDEZ SR Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 3/31/2021 11-E -33
  • TRACEY ANNETTE ADAMS Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 3/6/2021 55-W -33
  • TROY KEITH MORIN Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 2/23/2021 7-E -33
  • TAIWO CAROLINE OBELE Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 2/16/2021 13-W -33
  • VICKIE V JAMES Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 2/10/2021 53-W -33
  • TREVA T PRESTON Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 1/15/2021 53-E -32
  • ALFREDO JIMENEZ JR Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 1/15/2021 32-W-33
  • RANDALL LEWIS SIMS Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 1/3/2021 50-W -33
  • BRENDA LEE LAFASO Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 12/31/2020 7-W -33
  • JOE CHARLIE LANDIN Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 12/28/2020 40-W -33
  • PHILLIP D HOLBERT Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 12/27/2020 41-E -32
  • HAROLD PAUL SMITH JR Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 12/15/2020 57-W -33
  • TIMOTHY LEE BEGGS Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 12/9/2020 25-E -33
  • ELIZABETH A JONES Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 8/15/2020 51-W -33
  • JACKSON M PONGAY Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice 7/19/2020 5-E -33
  • CHAD MICHAEL WALKER Texas Dept. of Public Safety 3/28/2021 7-E -33
  • PAUL KEITH MOONEY Texas Dept. of Public Safety 6/14/2021 54-E -32
  • DUSTIN LEE SLOVACEK Texas Dept. of Public Safety, Criminal Investigations Division 9/12/2021 37-W -33
  • CHRISTOPHER RAY WILSON Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 8/26/2021 46-W -33
  • GREGORY RANDALL YOUNG Vernon College, Texas, P.D. 9/1/2021 1-E -33
  • PHILLIP DAVID BARRON JR Victoria County, Texas, S.O. 9/24/2021 25-W -33
  • EDDIE B HUTCHISON III Walker County, Texas, Criminal District Attorney's Office 2/10/2021 17-W -33
  • MICHAEL ALAN KEATHLEY West, Texas, P.D. 9/2/2021 22-W -33
  • ALBERT RENE GOMEZ White Settlement, Texas, P. D. 7/27/2021 19-E -33
  • SUSAN ANN ROBERTS Williamson County, Texas, S.O. 9/12/2020 18-W -33   

A full list of names from across the nation is available here.

Not all on the list died in the line of duty in 2021, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, the principal organizer of the National Police Week observance.

Of the 619 officers whose names were added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial wall, 472 were killed in 2021. Of those, 319 died due to COVID-19-related causes. An additional 147 officers died in the years preceding 2021, but many of their sacrifices had been unknown, according to the memorial fund.

There was a 55% increase in law enforcement officer fatalities in 2021 over 2020, according to a report issued by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund. As of Dec. 31, 2021, 458 federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement officers died in the line of duty last year, resulting in an increase from 295 officers killed in the same period the year before. It is the highest total line-of-duty officer deaths on record since 1930, when there were 312 fatalities. 

Schedule of Events

National Police Week runs from Monday, May 15 to Saturday, May 21 this year; the observance's principal organizer, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, has events scheduled on its website starting today through Tuesday, May 17. Nationwide, law enforcement agencies and other state memorial funds have already held their own services recognizing peace officers who have recently died.

Texas held its memorial ceremony and candlelight vigil on Sunday, May 1, 2022, at the Texas Peace Officers' Memorial Wall on the Capitol grounds in Austin. The program included a memorial march of honor guard teams, combined pipe and drum corps, motorcycle officers, and bicycle officers.

A copy of the event guide is available online. Visit the site to search for fallen officers and donate to the nonprofit that organizes the vigil each year.

The City of Frisco and the Frisco Police Department paused to remember those in law enforcement who lost their lives while in the line of duty during a ceremony held on Monday, May 9, 2022.  

During a ceremony held on Tuesday, May 10, Dallas police and city officials honored their fallen officers. The ceremony featured a 21-gun salute, a helicopter flyover, a choir performance, and a memorial roll call for those the department has recently lost. The department hosts the ceremony each year leading up to National Police Week, held this year May 15-21, a U.S. observance honoring law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

This year's Denton County Fallen Officers Memorial took place at the Denton County Amphitheater on Wednesday, May 11. The event honored two Double Oak Police Department officers, John Mestas and Lonnie Sneed, and a Cross Roads Police Department officer, Chris Bardwell, who lost their lives this year. Denton Police Department Detective Rodney Mooneyham and Denton County Fire Marshal Roland Asebedo, who died in 2021, were also remembered. The program also honored all area law enforcement officers lost over the years.

According to a Brownsville Police Department Facebook post, its police chief attended a memorial event hosted by the Cameron County District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday, May 11.

On Friday, May 13, a ceremony honoring law enforcement officers who have lost their lines in the line of duty will take place at 9 a.m. at Rest Haven Memorial Park in Rockwall, Texas.

On Saturday, May 14, the Laredo Police Department is hosting its 5K Run and Walk at North Central Park, 10202 International Blvd., Laredo, Texas, in honor of National Police Week. The entry fee is $25 and onsite registration starts at 6:30 a.m. CT. The race starts at 8 a.m. CT. Online registration is available at www.zapataroadrunners.org. For more information, call officer J.E. Ceballos at 956-701-0671.

The events listed are just some of the events that have already taken place or will take place during National Police Week in the Lone Star State.

Have an event you'd like to list? Mention it in the comments section below.

According to the Memorial Fund's website, here is a list of highlighted events occurring in Washington, D.C.:

May 11, 2022

The week began today with a National Police K9 Memorial Service in Washington, D.C. For more information, download the flyer.

May 12, 2022
  • Join leaders and members of the Police Unity Tour as they honor all those who have died while on the job for the Police Unity Tour Ride-In and Ceremony. The event occurs at the National Law Enforcement Office Memorial along the 400 Block of E Street, NW, Washington, D.C.
  • The Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball show their appreciation for those law enforcement officers who have died while in the line of duty and other first responders during its annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Days. Visit Washington Nationals Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, 1:05 p.m. EDT for more information and to buy tickets while in D.C.
MAY 13, 2022

Each year, the names of hundreds of officers killed in the line of duty are engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial walls in Washington, D.C. Their names are then read aloud during a Candlelight Vigil. This year's vigil is in its 34th year. The vigil starts at 8 p.m. EDT and will be live-streamed on:

May 13 – 15, 2022
  • FOP DC Lodge #1 Tent City at R.F.K. Stadium, Lot 8, located at 2400 East Capitol Street S.E., Washington, DC 20003, is open daily from 11 a.m. until 2 a.m. EDT. The stadium provides plenty of paid parking and access to the Stadium-Armory Metro station (Silver, Orange and Blue Lines), only a 9-minute walk from the site. Tent City features music, food, and drinks. Volunteers ensure visitors have a great time in D.C. and provide a safe, fun environment. Stay updated on Police Week and Tent City by visiting www.policeweektentcity.com and across social media at @policeweekdc.
May 14, 2022
  • The Annual Steve Young National Honor Guard Competition and Pipe Band Competition hosts its Honor Guard and Pipeband Exhibition at the U.S. Capitol Building Reflecting Pool, on the West Side of the Capitol near 3rd Street, S.W. Teams will provide a one-day event consisting of three segments, including Team Inspection, the Color Guard Posting of the Colors, and the Exhibition Phase. The performance honors those being remembered during National Police Week in the Nation's Capital. These performances are a tribute to the fallen peace officers, their families, and law enforcement officers across the nation who stand vigilant in protecting their communities. For more information, visit www.policeweekhonorguard.com. Time: 8 a.m. to approximately 4 p.m. EDT.
  • Washington Nationals Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, 7:05 p.m. EDT
May 15, 2022
  • Annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service, Sponsored by the Grand Lodge Fraternal Order of Police and the Grand Lodge Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary. The Memorial Service is held on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The service mainly honors the officers who recently made the ultimate sacrifice and pays tribute to all the fallen. Details are updated as they become available. The service begins at Noon EDT and runs for approximately 3.5 hours. All law enforcement attending must wear their badge on their outermost garment. They must also have two forms of government id, including their department's credential.
  • Wreath Laying and Stand Watch for the Fallen
  • Washington Nationals Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, 1:35 p.m. EDT.
May 16, 2022
  • National Police Survivors Conference and Picnic on the Patio, sponsored by Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center Hotel. Family and co-worker survivors have opportunities to receive support to understand grief, prepare for trial, learn new coping skills, and build connections with others. C.O.P.S. will also host the Picnic on the Patio giving survivors the chance to relax, listen to music, dance, and enjoy a BBQ dinner. There will be activities for the entire family, including bounce houses, Critters for C.O.P.S. Kids, temporary tattoos, a photo booth, and more. Visit concernsofpolicesurvivors.org or call 573-346-4911 for more information.

History of Police Week

As a tribute to law enforcement in 1962, President John F. Kennedy declared May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week that the date falls on as National Police Week. A joint resolution passed by Congress that year established National Police Week to honor those law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty for others' safety and protection.

As the principal organizer of the National Police Week observance each May, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund maintains a database of line-of-duty officer deaths, conducts research into officer fatality trends and issues, and services as an information clearinghouse. The nonprofit, headquartered in Washington, D.C., built the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, a monument to law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, hosts an annual Candlelight Vigil to honor fallen officers, and built the National Law Enforcement Museum dedicated to telling the story of American law enforcement through exhibits, collections, research, and education.

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