College, law enforcement pay tribute to fallen officers

PARK HILLS – Although police killings have declined tremendously over the past 25 years, the life of a single police officer ends during the line of duty every 57 hours, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Mineral Area College and law enforcement from Ste. Genevieve, Madison, Iron, Washington and St. Francois counties will pay tribute to officers who have lost their lives during a brief ceremony held at 11 a.m. Thursday in the college’s Community Center.

Bruce Scott, director of public safety at MAC, said this is the eighth year for the ceremony. The ceremony provides all citizens and law enforcement personnel an opportunity to honor those who have serveded their communities by making the ultimate sacrifice.

He said they decided to have it in the community center this year because they don’t want to take a chance on the weather. The event is usually held outdoors in the quadrangle.

Everyone in the community is invited to attend the memorial, which will feature the MAC Law Enforcement Academy Color Guard, an invocation, the lowering of the Colors and playing of “Taps,” a few words from the keynote speaker – a law enforcement academy student, and the playing of “Amazing Grace” with bagpipes.