WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) today noted the tributes paid to three Mississippians whose law enforcement service and sacrifices are being remembered this week as part of National Police Week.

Pearl Police Department Detective Mike Walter was the sole Mississippi officer to lose his life in the line of duty in 2012.  Walter, along with the late George County Sheriff John E. Nelson and Marion County Deputy Sheriff Edgar A. Harrell, was honored Wednesday at the 32nd Annual National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service at the U.S. Capitol.  In addition, their names have been added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington.

“The loss of Detective Walter last year was tragic for his young family, his community and our state.  The memorial services at home and in Washington provide an important opportunity to reflect on the risks taken by law enforcement officers every day,” Cochran said.  “I join in paying respect to Mike Walter, Sheriff Nelson and Deputy Harrell and all members of the Mississippi law enforcement community.”

“Our law enforcement officers often face dangerous circumstances when protecting our communities,” said Wicker. “Mississippi and the Pearl Police Department lost a selfless and dedicated servant this year when Detective Walter was tragically killed in the line of duty.  Today, we honor his memory and the service of Sheriff Nelson, Deputy Sheriff Harrell, and all our brave police officers.”

Names of fallen local, state and federal officers from the 2012 calendar year have been added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Walter was shot and killed while serving a search warrant on May 1, 2012.

In all, 321 names have been added to the monument, including officers like Nelson and Harrell who were killed earlier in history but whose line-of-duty sacrifices only recently came to the attention of the Memorial administration.  Nelson was killed in an ambush in December 1948, while Harrell passed away in June 1997.

Today’s memorial service at the Capitol was hosted by the Grand Lodge Fraternal Order of Police and the Grand Lodge Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary.  The overall national observance is organized by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Concerns of Police Survivors, the Fraternal Order of Police and the Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary.

National Police Officers Memorial Day was first designated in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy.

LINKS:
•        National Police Week:  http://www.policeweek.org/  
•        National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund:  http://www.nleomf.org/ 

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