Here is a message from Sheriff James Winder. This morning I have been in communication with the members of the Unified Police Department and Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office who traveled to New York to attend the funeral of slain officer Wenjian Liu. Our Officers are awaiting their rooms after arriving at approximately 5:30 a.m. New York Time. I want to thank the officers for taking time away from their families to participate in this very important event. I also want to thank JetBlue Airlines for making the travel of these and countless other officers from around the nation possible. It really was a very gracious and magnanimous act on the part of the airline. In addition to the Officers we have attending the funeral in New York the Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office also has a presence at the funeral of Flagstaff Arizona Officer Tyler Stewart who was shot to death responding to a domestic violence call January 27th. Some will inevitably question why police agencies incur the expense of sending representation to funerals of fallen Officers. The reality is the cost is relatively minor especially when one takes into account the gracious donation of corporate sponsors such as JetBlue. Even without such donations the expense is usually for fuel, hotel and per diem. A cost I believe is wholly justified and appropriate given the incredible impact these events have not only on the communities where they occur but also to the members of our organization. There really is nothing like seeing hundreds or even thousands of Officers from agencies both locally and in some cases internationally lined up to pay respect to an individual who has given his or her life serving their community. To see and feel the impact not only on the devastated family members of those fallen officers but also on the citizens within the respective communities is one of the most emotional experiences I have ever had. I will never forget driving in the procession of police cars through Ogden Utah for the funeral of OPD Officer Jared Francom. Looking out at the thousands of people who had turned out lining the streets as they watched police cars from Ogden as well as nearly every agency in the state of Utah as well as Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Montana and others was amazing. This procession signified to the people of Ogden, who were suffering, that they did not suffer alone. That their community was part of a greater community, a Nation and that together we would get through this tragedy. Now it is New York and Flagstaff that are suffering, tomorrow, Good forbid it may be Salt Lake. And although all of these communities are different in so many ways they do share one common thread, they like all of us simply want to live happy peaceful lives free from the very real threats that face all societies. To both New York and Flagstaff: I hope and prey that the simple act of being there, quietly to pay respect not just to the fallen officer but to the citizens who live in those communities will be reminded that we, as a nation, do care for each other. We are so proud and grateful to be given the opportunity to honor and remember those that we have lost.
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 19:39:04 +0000
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