The new Peace Officers Memorial will be dedicated at Colorado Springs Memorial Park on May 15, 2018. The Board of El Paso County Commissioners unanimously approved a Proclamation at Tuesday’s regular meeting, honoring fallen peace officers and celebrating the completion of the memorial.
Board President Darryl Glenn read the Peace Officers Memorial Day Proclamation into the official record noting, “The members of law enforcement agencies of the Pikes Peak Region play an essential role in safeguarding the rights and freedoms of the citizens of El Paso County. It is important that all citizens know and understand the problems, duties and responsibilities of their law enforcement agencies, and members of our law enforcement agencies recognize their duty to serve the people.”
The Peace Officers Memorial will be dedicated with the names of 32 peace officers killed in the line of duty since 1895 in El Paso and Teller Counties. El Paso County Deputy Micah Flick is most recent addition to the memorial. Flick was shot and killed in the line of duty on Feb. 5, 2018. Each name will be listed on an 18 x 24-inch bronze plaque. Twenty-two Pikes Peak region law enforcement agencies are represented on the new memorial.
“Our hearts are heavy. We’re proud of the collective effort that will bring this day forward. It’s going to be an unbelievable event,” Commissioner Glenn said.
Upon receiving the Proclamation El Paso County Sheriff Bill Elder said. “We are very, very excited that this year we will cut the ribbon and celebrate the Peace Officers Memorial at the new site.”
Sheriff Elder was joined by more than 20 members of the Pikes Peak law enforcement community, including Colorado Springs Police Chief Pete Carey and CSPD Commander Dave Edmondson, who has been working tirelessly since 2014 to make the vision of a Peace Officers Memorial into a reality.
“We knew we needed to have the community behind us,” said Andy Cain, Chair of the Peace Officers Memorial Board. “We needed to have folks that would rise up to the cause and care for this and make sure it would be citizen based.”
All five of the Commissioners thanked the region’s law enforcement members for “putting their lives on the line, day in and day out.”
“At a time when law enforcement gets a bad rap, it’s that much more important for us to show our commitment to the folks that serve us so well,” said Commissioner Mark Waller. “I appreciate everybody here and all that you do. Thank you for your dedication to our community.”
The Peace Officers Memorial will be dedicated with the ribbon cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. May 15, 2018 at Memorial Park off of Union Boulevard just south of Pikes Peak Avenue.
President John F. Kennedy and Congress proclaimed May 15, 1962 as the first Peace Officers Memorial Day. Since then, the week following May 15 has become known as Police Week.
Related events in El Paso County during Police Week will include:
· Pikes Peak Region Peace Officers Memorial Service – Friday, May 18, 10 a.m. at Memorial Park
· Valor Run (5K run, 3K walk) – Saturday, May 19, 8:30 a.m. at Memorial Park
· Peace Officers Memorial Ball (dinner, silent auction ,dance) – Saturday, May 19, 6 p.m. at the Marriott Hotel, 5510 Tech Center Dr. in Colorado Springs