National Police Week
www.ncfop06.org
Each year, between 140 and 160 law enforcement officers in the United States are killed in the line of duty and their families and co-workers are left to cope with the tragic loss.
29th Annual National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Service
May 15, 2009; 12 PM
U.S. Capitol Building Front Lawn
Washington DC
21st Candlelight Vigil
May 13, 2009; 8 PM
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial
Washington DC
Gaston County Law Enforcement Officers
Wreath-Laying Ceremony
May 7, 2009; 11:30 AM
Gaston Memorial Park
Gastonia, NC
Gaston County Peace Officers
Memorial Service
May 7, 2009; 10 AM
Officer John Baker Memorial Ride
TBA
Gaston County Sheriff's Office
Gastonia, NC
North Carolina Peace Officers
Memorial Service
May 6, 2009
Annual Blue Mass
May 6, 2009; 12:10 PM
St. Patrick's Catholic Church
Washington DC
Links
Gaston County
Schedule of Events
North Carolina
Schedule of Events
Gaston County's Fallen Law Enforcement Officers
Law Enforcement News
National Police Week
Schedule of Events
The Law Enforcement Memorial at Gaston Memorial Park on South New Hope Road in Gastonia displays the names and departments of law enforcement officers from Gaston County that were killed in the line of duty or died while on duty.
Nation Pauses
To Remember
For a week each May, the nation pauses to honor and remember the men and women in law enforcement that have died in the line of duty.
Official ceremonies take place in Washington DC, with a memorial service held in front of the Capitol on May 15, designated by President John Kennedy as Police Memorial Day. The ceremony is sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Police. Officers and family members also gather at the National Law Enforcement Memorial at Judicial Square for a candlelight vigil. There are more than 18,200 names of fallen officers engraved on the memorial, which is updated each year.
John H. Smith
Gastonia Police Department
End of Watch: 09-05-1937
Albert L. Painter
Cherryville Police Department
End of Watch: 01-16-1926
Michael P. Jenkins
Bessemer City Police Dept.
End of Watch: 05-02-1972
James E. English
Gastonia Police Department
End of Watch: 11-11-1948
Bryon D. Carpenter
Belmont Police Department
End of Watch: 04-16-2005
Bryant K. Birt
Gastonia Police Department
End of Watch: 07-29-1944
Randy M. Pendleton
Gaston County Police Dept.
End of Watch: 02-05-1979
Charlie V. Murphy
Gastonia Police Department
End of Watch: 08-01-1944
Lon G. Haskett
Gastonia Police Department
End of Watch: 09-28-1977
Ronald Davis
Belmont Abbey Police Dept.
End of Watch: 05-20-1993
S.C. McKenzie
Gastonia Police Department
End of Watch: 08-13-1941
Marshal Griffie
Gastonia Police Department
End of Watch: 06-07-1928
William Arron Dameron
Gaston County Sheriff's Office
End of Watch: 10-25-1935
Orville F. Aderholt
Gastonia Police Department
End of Watch: 06-07-1928
Johnny Wagner
Ranlo Police Department
End of Watch: 09-08-1985
Lloyd M. Parton
Bessemer City Police Dept.
End of Watch: 06-19-1948
Help the Fraternal Order of Police find photographs of our fallen officers. If you have photograph or know where we can locate one, please email Lodge Secretary Michael Schwartz at Schwartz_michael@cityofgastonia.com. Or contact him at 704-854-6617.
Support the National Law Enforcement Memorial by giving to the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund.
Gaston County Lodge Takes Over Planning
Of Annual County Wreath-Laying Ceremony
The Chiefs of Police Association of Gaston County has agreed to turn over the responsibility of planning the annual wreath-laying ceremony during Police Memorial Week to the local Fraternal Order of Police.
The ceremony is held in May at the Law Enforcement Memorial site at Gaston Memorial Park on South New Hope Road.
The lodge will plan the ceremony and purchase the wreath that is placed at the memorial in honor of law enforcement officers from Gaston County that have died in the line of duty. The ceremony follows the countywide memorial service, which will continue to be sponsored by the Chiefs of Police Association.
"We're pleased that the association has allowed the Fraternal Order of Police to take an active role in honoring our fallen officers," said J. David Brogdon, president of the Gaston County Lodge.