City Honors Service, Salutes Sacrifice
By City of Arlington, TX
Posted on April 30, 2015, April 30, 2015

City Honors Service

Arlington will remember its fallen law enforcement officers at a special ceremony at Heroes Park on May 5.

The Arlington Police Memorial Service is held in conjunction with upcoming state and national celebrations that pay tribute to peace officers who have died in the line of duty.

The state will honor fallen officers at ceremonies in Austin at the Texas Capitol held over three days beginning May 2.

National Police Week is May 10-16 with more observances in Washington, DC. 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.

During Tuesday's ceremony at Heroes Park, the Mayor and City Council will proclaim May 10-16 as Police Week in Arlington. On May 15, the City of Arlington will lower its flags for Police Memorial Day.

Sergeant Jill Willis, a lead coordinator for Tuesday's memorial at Heroes Park, says Arlington is proud to continue a rich tradition that honors service and salutes sacrifice.

Arlington's Police Memorial Service will begin at 9 a.m. and pay tribute to eight Arlington fallen officers. The program will include Mayor Robert Cluck, Congressman Joe Barton, Police Chief Will Johnson and Police Chaplain Harold Elliot. The event will also feature the Roll Call of Honor. Members of the award-winning Arlington PD Honor Guard will present the wreath at the wall and a 21-gun salute will followed by "Taps."

This memorial service will also include the families of fallen officers. Following the memorial tribute, a reception will be hosted by the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association and Police Wives Association.

A Salute to Sacrifice:

Officer James Evan Johnson

End of Watch: November 23, 1930

Officer Gary Dwaine Harl

End of Watch: July 16, 1975

Officer Terry Lynn Lewis

End of Watch: October 9, 1992

Office Jerry J. Crocker

End of Watch: October 9, 1992

Officer Craig Michael Hanking

End of Watch: August 3, 1994

Officer Joseph Thomas Cushman

End of Watch: June 7, 2001

Officer Craig Gordon Story

End of Watch: January 13, 2010

Officer Jillian Michelle Smith

End of Watch: December 28, 2010

Headlines, News, Public Safety