Honoring their fallen
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on May 6, 2015 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Deputy William Cates, left, with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, and Officer Jason Booker, with the Goldsboro Police Department, post the colors during the Law Enforcement Memorial Service this morning at Wayne Community College.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Deputy Joshua Davis, left, with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, and Sgt. LeAnn Rabun, with the Goldsboro Police Department, lay a wreath in honor of their fallen law enforcement officers.
Flags flew at half staff this morning as law enforcement officers and their families gathered at Wayne Community College to commemorate officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Law enforcement officers live constantly on a subtle edge, yet throw themselves into dangerous situations each day, speakers said.
"Those that wear the badge realize that we are living in dangerous times," Goldsboro Police Chief Jeff Stewart said. "That gives even more meaning to today's ceremony."
About a dozen family members of local officers who have lost their lives serving their communities attended the ceremony this morning.
Already in 2015, 39 officers nationwide have been killed in the line of duty, Stewart said.
Since the inception of law enforcement offices in Wayne County, dating back to the early 1800s, 10 local officers have lost their lives.
Some were chasing down bootleggers, others were responding to domestic disturbances, but all of them gave the ultimate sacrifice, Stewart said.
Firearm related incidents and traffic-related mishaps are the two leading causes of death for officers, he said.
Each year, there are nearly 60,000 assaults on police officers, of which about 16,000 will result in injuries.
"One hundred and twenty-seven officers lost their lives in the line of duty in 2014, which is a 24 percent increase from 2013," Stewart said. "On average, they were 41 years old and left two children behind."
Two of the 127 officers who died in the line of duty in 2014 were from North Carolina, Stewart said.
"I'd like to thank all of the officers I serve with, and all of the families," Stewart said. "Law enforcement is truly a family."
Wayne County Sheriff Larry Pierce echoed Stewart's remarks, saying officers and their families know firsthand just how nerve-racking any situation an officer is called into can be.
"You've heard the statistics -- 127 officers killed in 2014, 39 have already been killed this year," Pierce said. "When an officer is killed in the line of duty it reminds you of just how dangerous your job is."
And no situation is to be taken lightly, Pierce said, as any situation could rapidly devolve into a fatality.
"It could be responding to a burglar alarm, or you could be serving papers to someone, and the situation escalates and you are put in harm's way," Pierce said.