Officer memorial service canceled
The annual Fallen Officer Memorial Service, which was scheduled to be held today outside the Garland County Sheriff’s Department, has been canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and concerns about the weather, according to FOP Lodge 26.
“For a number of years, the Garland County Sheriff’s Office FOP Lodge No. 26 has honored fallen officers in Garland County by hosting the Police Memorial Ceremony with the help of the Hot
Springs Police Department, Arkansas State Police, Hot Springs Village Police and National Park Service,” sheriff’s Sgt. Josh Cannon, president of FOP Lodge
26, said in a statement released Thursday.
“Previous ceremonies consisted of readings from local officials and keynote speakers, the posting of colors, and our national anthem. We would honor our fallen officers with the presentation of the ceremonial wreaths and the Hero’s Roll Call while concluding with the playing of taps,” he said.
“This year, unfortunately, it is with great regret that we are unable to host our traditional events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, prediction of bad weather, and adhering to social distancing. The memorial will remain open starting at 6 p.m. (today) to the public for those who wish to pay their respects,” Cannon said.
“This decision was a difficult one, but we believe it is the right one. We are saddened that our community and partner agencies cannot come together this year to grieve the loss of the officers who were killed in the line of duty, but given the national crisis, we must continue to make the safety of the public our first priority.”
This year’s ceremony would have marked the first time a new fallen officer was honored, with the death of HSPD Officer
1st Class Brent Scrimshire, who was killed in the line of duty on March 10. Scrimshire was the first law enforcement officer to die in the line of duty since Officer Chris Anderson in February 1996.
“If the community wishes to leave any type of candle at the memorial, we respectfully ask that the candle is in a type of glass case for safety reasons,” Cannon said.