THEY GAVE ALL
The Solano County Honor Guard began its formal march at noon Wednesday to the Peace Officers Memorial in front of the Solano County Sheriff's Office on Union Avenue in Fairfield.
Then the area around the roadway, normally busy during the day, fell silent, so quiet song birds pierced the air, twittering musically, and momentarily drowned out rumbling traffic on nearby Highway 12.
The Stars and Stripes and the California state flag, fluttering in a mild breeze, were first lowered, then raised to half-staff, as a trio of vocalists sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Then, as some 100 police officers from throughout the county stood at attention on the avenue, Ron Turner, president of The 100 Club of Solano and Yolo counties, standing at a lectern, said, “We're here to support families of fallen officers…” As he spoke, several dozen surviving relatives of the deceased officers listened from under large pop-up tents, just a few feet away from rose bushes in full bloom.
And so, with appropriate solemnity, the 34th Peace Officers Memorial Service at the Peace Officer's Wall of Honor was underway under a luminous blue sky, followed by an invocation by Chaplain Alvin Jackson, who leads the Community Bible Church in Vallejo.
Afterward, Turner — who leads the nonprofit group that provides immediate financial aid to families of public safety employees who die in the line of duty — introduced the ceremony's keynote speaker, Vacaville Police
Schmutzler said it was important to foster `a culture of resilience' within police departments and to monitor `the physical, mental and emotional welfare' of police officers.
Chief Ian Schmutzler, who said the memorial was a gathering to pay tribute to officers cut down in the line of duty and to “remember their courage, dedication and sacrifice.”
Training, he said, “lies at the heart” of law enforcement, and the memorial service was a reminder, he added, to train police officers with the most up-todate instruction and techniques as societal circumstances change.
Schmutzler, born on Travis Air Force Base and currently serving as the city's 15th police chief, said it was important to foster “a culture of resilience” within police departments while the day-to-day environment of law enforcement changes amid surging crime rates.
Thus, it is important to monitor “the physical, mental and emotional welfare” of police officers, he added, standing at the lectern in his full-dress, dark blue uniform and hat.
While peace officers sometimes make the ultimate sacrifice, as those who were being remembered Wednesday did, Schmutzler at one point referenced the Book of John, 15:13, a passage attributed to Jesus Christ: “Greater love has no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Then Steve Mortensen, a retired Benicia police officer, read the names of the fallen and noted their “end of watch”: Among them were Vallejo night watchman Frank Toal, Sept. 2, 1896; and Dixon Constable Dan McKinnon, Nov. 22, 1918.
The names and dates of death were recited quickly, 1947, 1964, 1968, 1973, 1976. Others included Solano County Sheriff's Deputy Jose Cisneros, Aug. 25 1985; Vallejo Police Officer James L. Capoot, Nov. 17, 2011; CHP Officer Kirk A. Griess, of Vacaville, Aug. 10, 2018.
Chaplain Jackson delivered a closing prayer, saying, while casting his eyes toward the families of the fallen, “May the Lord bless you, may the Lord keep you.”
From the Solano County Honor Guard, the sound of two rifle volleys cracked the air, bracing everyone within earshot, followed by an instrumental version of “Taps,” played by Bill Dougherty.
Moments later, a CHP helicopter flew overheard, and a bagpiper performed “Amazing Grace,” the 1779 Christian hymn often played at funerals and memorial services.
As the officers dispersed, and once at ease, Vacaville Police Capt. David Kellis said the ceremony reminded him “of the risks officers take every day they go out.” When an officers is killed in the line of duty, he added, “We take it personally” and it is important to take a moment to remember their sacrifice.
Vacaville Mayor John Carli, a former Vacaville police chief, said the solemn ceremony caused him to reflect while “taking it all in.”
“You never get over” the loss of a fellow law enforcement officer, he said, adding that he knew several of the men whose names were read aloud.
“They sacrificed for the community we have and the great country we live in,” said Carli.