Columbia, South Carolina - United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon recognized today the service and sacrifice of federal, state, and local police officers on the occasion of National Police Week, which is being observed Sunday, May 12, to Saturday, May 18, 2019. In October 1962, Congress declared May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and created National Police Week as an annual tribute to law enforcement service and sacrifice.
According to statistics reported to the FBI, 106 law enforcement officers were killed in line-of-duty incidents in 2018, including five officers here in South Carolina. The names of all 106 fallen officers nationwide were formally dedicated on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, during the 31st Annual Candlelight Vigil on the evening of May 13, 2019.
“During Police Week, we celebrate the contributions of law enforcement officers across the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, and bravery," said U.S. Attorney Lydon. “Today, on National Peace Officers Memorial Day, we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of their communities. We are able to live in safety and sleep in peace only because men and women like Mike Doty, Dale Hallman, James Kirk, Terrence Carraway, and Farrah Turner are willing to put on the police uniform every day and risk their lives to protect the rest of us. To them, and to their brothers and sisters in uniform, we offer our unwavering support and appreciation."
The five South Carolina officers added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial this year are:
York County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Michael R. Doty, who passed away on Jan. 17, 2018, after sustaining gunshot wounds in the line of duty the previous day while searching for a subject who had shot a York County Sheriff’s Office canine handler earlier in the night.
Saluda County Sheriff’s Office Corporal Dale S. Hallman, who was killed in the line of duty in a single-vehicle crash while responding to a call on April 6, 2018;
Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office Master Deputy James L. Kirk, Jr., who died in the line of duty after collapsing during a combat firearms training on April 24, 2018;
Florence Police Sergeant Terrence F. Carraway, who was killed in the line of duty on Oct. 3, 2018, while responding to assist three Florence County Sheriff’s Office deputies who had been shot while serving a warrant; and
Florence County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Farrah B.G. Turner, who passed away on Oct. 22, 2018, after suffering fatal gunshot wounds in the line of duty while serving a warrant on Oct. 3, 2018.
For more information about other National Police Week events, please visit www.policeweek.org. ##
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
