Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Remembering the fallen
Boca Raton Police Chief Dan Alexander salutes after laying a wreath in honor of fallen officers on Peace Officers Memorial Day. City staff attended the annual ceremony Monday to pay their respects and to be reminded of the risks that come with the profession. “Most people run from danger,” Mayor Susan Haynie said. “Law enforcement officers run to danger.”
Bagpipes wailed over the sound of steady snare drums Monday morning in the plaza of Boca’s police department for Peace Officers Memorial Day.
Police, the City Council and other city staff came out to the annual ceremony to honor fallen officers and to be reminded of the risks that come with the profession.
“It takes a special kind of person to serve in law enforcement,” said Mayor Susan Haynie at Monday’s ceremony. “Most people run from danger. Law enforcement officers run to danger.”
Boca Police Chief Dan Alexander said 144 police officers were killed in the U.S. last year. He cited the death of Orlando’s Lt. Debra Clayton, who in March was shot four times while confronting a suspect in a murder case.
“We cite statistics every year at these events, and we also remember that every number represents a fallen officer and the many lives that are impacted by these losses,” Alexander said.
Fortunately, Boca’s police department hasn’t had any officers killed in the line of duty in more than 40 years.
The only officer to ever die on the job was Lt. William Emerson, who in May 1975 had a heart attack during a SWAT training scenario.
Boca’s police Honor Guard marched into the police plaza Monday to raise a flag while the department’s rifle team fired three shots in salute to officers.
“As law enforcement officers, we put on our uniforms each day not knowing what dangers we may face,” said Detective Michael Lamia, who was also recognized at the ceremony as Boca’s 2016 Officer of the Year.
Among some of his accomplishments, Lamia was credited with helping track down suspects in a wave of bicycle thefts. Originally born in Boca, Lamia has been with the department for about 11 years.
“I was very humbled,” Lamia said. “It’s definitely, to me, a very distinguishing award.”