JACKSON, Miss.–The 2013 Fallen Officer’s Memorial was held Wednesday at the Department of Public Safety in Jackson.
This time is set aside every year to remember the now 32 officers killed in the line of duty in Mississippi for the DPS.
“You feel closer to him on a day like today,” said Kay Newell who is a family member of Ralph Newell who was killed in the line of duty in 1988.
The event included a rose being placed for each fallen officer at the memorial statue outside DPS headquarters.
Family members placed those roses if they were present.
“Sometimes it feels like it was just yesterday that it happened,” said Newell.
Other law enforcement officers at the event said it’s a time of remembrance for them each year.
“It’s a very solemn event for us and as law enforcement officers we forget that our family members also start our shift with us each day too,” said Lieutenant Johnny Poulos of the Mississippi Highway Patrol.
Governor Phil Bryant spoke at the event and noted he will seek stronger punishment for violators who are directly involved in the death of an officer.
He pointed to the person responsible for the death of Master Sergeant Steve Hood in 2009 during a car chase who is now back out on the streets after just over two years of a seven year sentence.
