DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE HONORS OFFICERS KILLED
As a part of National Police Week, which began on Monday, the Yolo County District Attorney’s office, alongside members of various county police departments and the Yolo County Retired Peace Officers Association, participated in a small ceremony and one-mile memorial walk.
The event Thursday, which took place outside of the old courthouse on 725 Court St., was to honor officers that have been killed in the line of duty.
“Today, the Yolo County District Attorney’s office took a memorial walk in honor of our fallen officers,” said Assistant Cheif Deputy District Attorney for Yolo County Melinda Aiello. “It’s something that we have done annually for the last decade-plus with the exception for last year due to COVID-19.”
Originating in 1962, with President John F. Kennedy signing a proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day, the week-long event held in Washington D.C. hosts thousands of law enforcement officers worldwide. The memorial day also offers several events that honor those officers who have died and provides support and supportive services to the families and friends.
Over the years, National Police Week has taken on a few forms.
There would be concurrent memorial events in a normal year while the District Attorney’s office would encourage the public and their law enforcement partners to show up. After a ceremony, a walk would take place.
“I think it’s an acknowledgment that we recognize that being a police officer is a difficult job and one in which you could pay the ultimate sacrifice,” Aiello said. “It is important as a community that we take a moment to think of those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice.”
After not holding the event last year due to the COVID-19
pandemic, the walk and abbreviated ceremonies returned.
“We are still in the midst of a pandemic,” Aiello said. “But it seems like we have turned a corner, so we wanted to do something that honors peace officers this week, but do so in a more responsible way. With the events being outside, it does feel like a safer way to proceed and still give this day and week the consideration it’s due.”
In 2013, Yolo County placed a granite headstone with the names of fallen Yolo County officers outside of the old courthouse.
In total, Yolo County has endured the loss of 12 of its community protectors since 1912. Most recently, the murder of Davis Police Officer Natalie Corona, which occurred on Jan. 10, 2019.
The loss had a profound emotional toll on Davis and Yolo County as a whole.
“We are a small county, and the loss of a police officer has a devastating effect, and we saw it most recently with the death of Natalie Corona,” Aiello said. “So I think it’s impactful to have these events in such a small community because it does seem like we feel it more because of our size and close-knit community.”
“With any memorial, it’s a somber event,” Aiello continued. “But ultimately, we try to turn it into a positive, uplifting event by acknowledging those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. When we pay tribute, we are telling our peace officer community that we support them.”