Officers honor their own at yearly memorial service
By PATRICK MALONE
The Pueblo Chieftain
More than ever, fallen law officers were paid their due respect on Friday at the Pueblo Law Enforcement Memorial Service.
Ranking members of three local law-enforcement agencies laid a wreath at the base in front of the Pueblo Police Officers Memorial outside the Pueblo Police Department.
Officers "shrouded the badge" by wearing a black band over their shields as a sign of mourning, according to Pueblo Police Chief James Billings.
Jack Selway's rendition of "O' Danny Boy," Ryan Balchuck's bagpipe tones in "Amazing Grace" and Chris Weidner's trumpeting of "Taps" sent waves of goosebumps over the sea of blue uniforms that stood at attention to honor officers who have died in the line of duty.
Steve Henson, managing editor of The Pueblo Chieftain and master of ceremonies at Friday's memorial, acknowledged that civil protectors killed in the line of duty came to the forefront of America's attention after last year's terrorist attacks claimed so many lives of police officers and firefighters.
"Each of them was a human being, a real person," Henson said. "They were sons, wives, husbands, daughters . . . and each of them left a memory. It is that memory that we must keep alive."
Billings said the memorial service organized by Deputy Police Chief John Ercul is "even more meaningful now in light of 9/11."
"This year it strikes a little deeper into our hearts than in past years," Billings said.
Seventeen officers from the Pueblo Police Department, the Pueblo County Sheriff's Department and the Colorado State Patrol's Pueblo office have died in the line of duty over the years, Henson said.
Retired Pueblo Police Chief Bob Silva was a contemporary of one fallen police officer and two fallen troopers. He said the highest praise that can be paid to them is to never forget what they sacrificed.
"It's an emotional time when you lose a fellow member of law enforcement in service to the community," Silva said. "It's a sad feeling, and one we don't look forward to, but it's important to keep their memories alive. We can never forget exactly how much they've given for us." They gave their all The following is a complete list of members of the local law-enforcement community who gave their lives in the line of duty.