Angela Harrolle recalled the night she learned the news that her husband, an officer and paramedic with an Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter crew, was killed in the line of duty.
It was eight years ago while on a mission to rescue two hikers in Bear Mountain in Sedona. Bruce Harrolle was struck by the helicopter's rotor blade.
It was nighttime and she was getting ready to put her two children to bed when one man in a flight suit and others in Smokey hats knocked on her door, and delivered the "horrible news," recalled Harrolle, the keynote speaker Tuesday at the Tucson Police Department's Fallen Officer Memorial.
Explaining the news to her children and helping them understand that their daddy was not coming back was difficult, said Harrolle to officers and families at the department's Memorial Courtyard at 270 S. Stone Ave.
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Harrolle gives hope and aid to those in need as chief executive officer for the 100 Club of Arizona, a non-profit organization that supports the families of police and firefighters killed in the line of duty or seriously injured.
During the tribute, there was the posting of colors by the TPD Honor Guard, a presentation of roses and a wreath, a rifle salute with Taps, and a flyover by the department's air unit.
Sgt. Roland Gutierrez, president of the Tucson Police Officers Association, explained that even though officers have passed "we will always hold them in our hearts and in our minds."
Gutierrez, along with union vice president Sgt. Brad Pelton, and Officers Charles Foley, a co-founder of Flags for the Flagless, and Officer Travis Carpenter, of Rusted American Metal flags, will attend the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial candlelight vigil May 13 and other tributes in Washington, D.C.
During TPD's ceremony, the fallen officers honored were:
- Erik D. Hite, who died June 2, 2008, after being shot in the head during a 20-mile chase and shootout through the city.
- Patrick K. Hardesty, who died May 26, 2003, shot to death while chasing a hit-and-run suspect.
- Jeffrey Ross, who died Feb. 18, 1982, after he was shot in the chest at the Ranch House Bar on North Casa Grande Highway. Ross was working a drug arrest operation.
- James Smith, who died Oct. 28, 1980, while on motorcycle patrol in the reversible middle lane of East Speedway near North Plumer Avenue. He was grazed by a station wagon and thrown into oncoming traffic.
- Barry Headricks, who died Oct. 28, 1974, of gunshot wounds suffered during a heroin bust on East Eighth Street.
- Robert Cummins, who died Sept. 7, 1936, four days after his patrol motorcycle skidded on loose gravel at the end of an American Legion convention parade in Phoenix.
- William Katzenstein, who died July 26, 1902, after he was shot by a man who was stalking him.
- William Elliott, who died July 3, 1892, after he was stabbed in the heart by a man in front of the mayor's house.
Contact reporter Carmen Duarte at cduarte@tucson.com or 573-4104. Twitter: @cduartestar
