Local law enforcement honored their fallen brethren with a ceremony Tuesday morning at the Troy Police Memorial.
After the ceremony, officers gathered at Bicentennial Park. They placed a wreath on the memorial and played “Taps” as a dedication to fallen state and county officers.
Troy Police Chief Jimmy Ennis said the ceremony is something for the families of the officers who have died.
“It’s the history of the department,” he said. “We certainly don’t want to lose an officer any time. But these officers who gave their lives in the line of duty, I think it’s very important.”
Since 1905, Troy PD has lost five officers in the line of duty: Will Jackson, June 3, 1905; Hayden Youngblood, May 22, 1962; Cecil Sullivan, Nov. 12, 1967; Billy Dease, January 15; and Steve Watkins, Nov. 26, 1981.
Judge Keith Watkins, Steve’s brother, attended the memorial.
“It was Thanksgiving day. He went on a domestic call and he was shot,” Watkins said.
The event meant a lot to him and his family.
“It’s important to the families,” he said. “But, it’s also important to the current officers to know they have community support and if something happens to them, there’ll be strong, strong support.”
Mayor Jason Reeves read a proclamation recognizing this as National Police Week. He said it was always a reflective day for him.
“Every day should be memorial day,” he said. “The freedom we have in this county, the things we take for granted, we owe to law enforcement.”
Capt. Danny Barron gave the invocation and benediction.
“We pray that you continue to give us the courage, the strength and the wisdom to do this job,” he said. “Continue to guard, guide and direct us in all that we do.”