Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Jed Boal reportingSalt Lake City police today honored their officers killed in the line of duty. Current officers and families paid respect that spans the decades.
One hundred fifty years ago, a Salt Lake City police officer was first killed in the line of duty. The police never forget, and many families still come to the memorial to honor the fallen officers years, and even decades, after they made the sacrifice.
Children and relatives of the two dozen officers killed over the years still come to place flowers in the memorial wreath. Courtney, Kaitlyn and Karissa Dunman placed a flower for their father, Michael J. Dunman, who was hit and killed by an out-of-control car in July 2000. They were quite young when he died.
"I like supporting my dad. He was really good," Karissa said. She and her sisters feel the price police officers can pay.
"If they're not going to do it, I guess nobody will. They need somebody to help the community," Courtney said.
Sen. Orrin Hatch, who served on the Judiciary Committee more than three decades, recognizes 2007 was one of the deadliest years for cops across the country. "We've got to all work together to make sure criminal conduct and criminal activity is reported and captured and prosecuted," he said.
Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank says the greatness of the department rests in the officers past and present. "We gather here not to mourn the individuals we've lost, but to celebrate their contribution to the wellbeing and safety of our community," he said.
The Salt Lake Police Association also presented a check for $5,000 to the State Fallen Officer Memorial under construction at the State Capitol to be dedicated in September.
E-mail: jboal@ksl.com
