During the 37th Annual Washington Area Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Service, a "roll call of heroes" named officers from dozens of area departments who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Hundreds of officers from around the region gathered in D.C. Monday for the 37th Annual Washington Area Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Service.
(Photo courtesy of Montgomery County Police Captain Paul Starks.)
Photo courtesy of Montgomery County Police Captain Paul Starks.
“Yes, there are times when this job is very dangerous,” said Montgomery County Police Chief Tom Manger at center. “You don’t dwell on the dangerous part of the job. You dwell on the part of the job where you’re serving the public and actually helping people – that’s what we go to work to do every day.”
(WTOP/Kristi King)
WTOP/Kristi King
Prince William County Police Acting Chief Lt. Colonel Barry Barnard honors officers Chris Yung and Philip Pennington. Pennington was shot and killed Thanksgiving Day 1990 after responding to the home of a man who had ambushed and shot an Arlington County sheriff’s deputy the previous day. Officer Yung was killed December 31, 2012 in a motorcycle accident in Bristow, while responding to a separate car crash.
(WTOP/Kristi King)
WTOP/Kristi King
Retired 40-year veteran of MPD William Peterbank on left is a member of the Fraternal Order of Police D.C. Lodge 1 which is one of the largest lodges in the nation. FOP Lodge 1 includes members from more than 114 District and Federal agencies.
(WTOP/Kristi King)
WTOP/Kristi King
Montgomery County Police Chief Tom Manger with Rich Leotta who is wearing the badge of his son Officer Noah Leotta who was hit by a suspected drunk driver. Leotta’s “End of Watch” was December 10, 2015. “Somebody said today here – it’s been a tough time for police officers lately, an extremely tough time,” Leotta noted after the ceremony. “They are out there every day making sure that we can come home safe and we have our freedom. And we don’t recognize that enough.”
(WTOP/Kristi King)
WTOP/Kristi King
The name of Montgomery County Police Officer Noah Leotta is now on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Northwest. The names of newly fallen officers are added to the monument each spring, during National Police Week. Leotta died December 10, 2015 after being hit by a suspected drunk driver.
(Photo courtesy of the Montgomery County Police Department)
Photo courtesy of the Montgomery County Police Department
Montgomery County Police Officers wear special badges during Police Week when thousands of officers from around the country gather in D.C. to honor fallen comrades.
(WTOP/Kristi King)
WTOP/Kristi King
The deaths of 18 Montgomery County police officers are noted on the back of special badges worn only during Police Week.
(WTOP/Kristi King)
WTOP/Kristi King
“It was an honor to be part such a poignant ceremony,” said WTOP Anchor Shawn Anderson on right who served as emcee of the 37th Annual Washington Area Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Service. “Whether they were police chiefs…rank and file officers…or family members of the fallen…it was apparent everyone was moved.” Pictured with Montgomery County Police Chief Tom Manger with Rich Leotta who is wearing the badge of his son Officer Noah Leotta who was killed by a suspected drunk driver last year.
(WTOP/Kristi King)
WASHINGTON — A solemn ceremony Monday honored fallen law enforcement officers from the D.C. region.
During the 37th Annual Washington Area Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Service, a “roll call of heroes” named officers from dozens of area departments who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Bagpipes and drums played and trumpets exchanged a haunting rendition of echo taps.
“I wish to particularly reach out to the survivors of the officers being honored today for the first time. Keep in mind that it is not an easy road,” said Hector Dittamo, national board member of the group, Concerns of Police Survivors.
Dittamo said survivors should realize they now have an even larger extended family.
“Those being other survivors, the officials and family support team of your respective agency or department and in general the entire law enforcement officers community,” Dittamo said.
Commending local police officers and officers around the world, Dittamo thanked them for their courage and bravery and said his family prays for them and their families every day.
Kristi King is a veteran reporter who has been working in the WTOP newsroom since 1990. She covers everything from breaking news to consumer concerns and the latest medical developments.
