Sheriff Jim McDonnell presided over the 46th Annual Los Angeles County Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony on Wednesday, May 20, 2015, to commemorate the lives of those peace officers who died in the line of duty while serving the residents of Los Angeles County.

Attending the memorial ceremony were numerous federal, state, and local dignitaries, in addition to family members, friends, and co-workers of the fallen officers.

Held in the beautiful Memorial Park at the Sheriff’s Training Academy and Regional Services (STARS) Center in Whittier, the ceremony included musi cal performances by members of law enforcement and the release of white doves on behalf of the fallen officers.

Supervisor Don Knabe, 4th District, was the keynote speaker and Supervisor Michael Antonovich, 5th District Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, was an honorable guest.

Regrettably, the names of the following officers were added to the Memorial Wall:

•Lieutenant Patrick L. Libertone, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, who died on August 12, 2014, after suffering a major heart attack during a traffic stop.

•Officer Jordan Corder, Covina Police Department, who died on September 30, 2014, from fatal injuries sustained in a traffic collision when an SUV attempted to make a left turn in front of him, causing a head-on collision and Officer Corder to be thrown from his motorcycle.

•Officer Shaun R. Diamond, Pomona Police Department, who died on October 29, 2014, from a single shotgun wound to the back of the neck, fired upon him as Officer Diamond and his team breached the door of a residence during the service of a search warrant in the City of San Gabriel.

•Officer Roberto C. Sanchez, Los Angeles Police Department, who died on May 3, 2014, from fatal injuries incurred when the patrol car in which he and his partner drove was intentionally rammed at a high rate of speed by another vehicle, trapping both officers inside.

In addition, historical research determined that 14 Los Angeles County Peace Officers lost their lives in the line of duty between the years 1853 and 2000.  Their names were also placed on the Memorial Wall:

•Deputy George W. Gillis, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department;

•Motor Officer Robert B. Ross, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department;

•Constable John “Jack” Wheelan, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department;

•Marshal Charles Lehman, Anaheim Marshal’s Office;

•Officer David D. Irwin, California Highway Patrol;

•Officer William H. Waggoner, Long Beach Police Department;

•Officer Neville Batt, Los Angeles Police Department;

•Officers James F. Crehan, Los Angeles Police Department;

•Officer John E. Dunphy, Los Angeles Police Department;

•Officer Michael Lee Edwards, Los Angeles Police Department;

•Lieutenant Charles E. Johnson, Los Angeles Police Department;

•Officer John T. Lawler, Los Angeles Police Department;

•Officer Leo Wise, Los Angeles Police Department;

Officer, James P. Wylie, Los Angeles Police Department.

Bronze plaques inscribed with the names of these 18 officers now join the 495 law enforcement officers’ names already on the Memorial Wall.

As part of the ceremony, Sheriff McDonnell accepted a torch delivered by members of various law enforcement agencies following a three-day Memorial Torch Relay Run, over 300 miles long.  The relay run commenced at the Sherman Block Sheriff’s Headquarters Building and traveled to each mainland Sheriff’s station.  The Memorial Flame at the Los Angeles County Peace Officers’ Memorial Wall was ignited in tribute to the fallen officers.

During his speech, Sheriff McDonnell encouraged all sworn personnel in attendance to take heart despite the many current challenges facing law enforcement, “It is a tough time to be a peace officer.  And so to you, I say take pride in the fact that more people applaud you than denigrate you.  Take pride in the majority of community members who support your work in protecting lives and property.”

Sheriff McDonnell was joined on stage by Deputy Chief Julian Harvey, Anaheim Police Department; Assistant Chief Chris O’Quinn, California Highway Patrol; Chief Kim Raney, Covina Police Department; Assistant Chief Earl Paysinger, Los Angeles Police Department; Chief Robert Luna, Long Beach Police Department; and Chief Paul Capraro, Pomona Police Department, to assist in the Wreath Presentation honoring the 18 officers.

Sheriff’s Information Bureau Captain Shaun Mathers was the Master of Ceremonies.  In closing, he stated, “Today we honored the dedication of these fine officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in serving their communities.”