MAC to Honor Fallen Officers May 14

Although police killings have declined tremendously during the past 25 years, on average a police officer dies in the line of duty once every 57 hours, according to statistics from the U.S. Dept. of Justice.

Mineral Area College and law enforcement from St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Madison, Washington, Perry and Iron counties will pay tribute to the ultimate sacrifice these officers have made during a brief ceremony held in the college’s Fine Arts Center Theatre at 10 a.m. May 14.

This annual ceremony, which is open to the public, provides all citizens and law enforcement personnel an opportunity to honor those who have served their communities through their dedication and devotion to duty.

Mark S. Potratz, director of the Department of Public Safety, invites the community to attend the memorial, which will feature the acknowledgment of the colors and National Anthem, invocation, and playing of “Taps.”

“Please join us in commemorating those who have sacrificed so much for the safety of us all,” Potratz said.

The keynote speaker will be St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department Chaplain Darryl Rhodes. The program includes a multimedia presentation on officers from the Southeast Missouri region who died in the line of duty, and concludes with a bagpipe rendition of “Amazing Grace.”

For more information, contact Potratz at (573) 518-2308.