Jacksonville Police Department Hosts Annual Police Memorial Day Service at Fallen Officers Memorial Wall
Since 2018, members of the Jacksonville Police Department and its local community have gathered each spring at the Fallen Officers Memorial Wall – a tribute conceived by Eagle Scout Adam Resch and funded by the Finker-Frenkel Foundation – to honor the brave police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Located in downtown Jacksonville, the Fallen Officers Memorial Wall honors the 65 heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice since the department’s founding in 1840. The annual service draws in the family members, friends, and other fellow officers of the fallen, to pay their respects and remember their loved ones.
This year, the seventh annual memorial service gave special recognition to Deputy Peder T. Johnson – who lost his life on Dec. 13, 1913, and whose name was newly etched into the marble wall.
“Through this observance, we recognize the courage and valor of our fallen, and we manifest our continued commitment to honor them and keep their spirit alive,” said Jacksonville Police Sheriff T.K. Waters. “As we honor these fallen heroes, let us also recognize the ripple effects of their loss on our community and, especially, their families.”
In addition to Sheriff Waters, speakers included Undersheriff Shawn Coarsey, City Council President Ron Salem, and Jacksonville Mayor Chief of Staff Darnell Smith. Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Director Mark Romano recited a poem, and the ceremony concluded with a reading of names and the traditional 21-gun salute.
The Finker-Frenkel Foundation is proud to support local first responders and their families, standing alongside those who serve our community with courage and dedication. For more information on the JSO Fallen Heroes, visit the Roll Call of Honor page.
