Hundreds of local law enforcement officials paid tribute to the area's fallen officers Thursday at the third annual Pima County Regional Law Enforcement Memorial.
The event, held in the Tucson Convention Center's Grand Ballroom, honored the 42 officers killed in the line of duty in Pima County since 1878, when two U.S. marshals were shot to death near Davidson Canyon.
"This serves as a stark reminder for the danger faced and the sacrifices made by our law enforcement," said former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona, who spoke at the event. "A law enforcement officer never knows when that life-threatening moment will occur."
Representatives from the 33 local, state, tribal and federal agencies that operate in Pima County attended, with 11 agencies presenting memorial wreaths in honor of their fallen officers.
Fallen officers
Since 1878 there have been 42 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in Pima County.
• Pima County Sheriff's Dept.: 10
• Tucson Police Dept.: 8
• Arizona Dept. of Public Safety: 7
• U.S. Border Patrol: 7
• U.S. Marshals Service: 3
• Drug Enforcement Administration: 2
• National Park Service: 1
• South Tucson Police Dept.: 1
• Tohono O'odham Nation Police Dept.: 1
• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement: 1
• University of Arizona Police Dept.: 1
Contact reporter Brian J. Pedersen at 573-4224 or bjp@azstarnet.com
