The ceremony recognizes law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty locally and throughout the state of Washington
The 2024 Clark County Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony will be held on May 22, 2024, starting at 11 a.m. It will be held in room 680 inside the Public Service Center at 1300 Franklin Street in Vancouver.
The ceremony recognizes law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty locally and throughout the state of Washington. It is open to the public and will feature the posting of colors and a bell-ringing ceremony performed by a multi-agency Honor Guard.
The ceremony will follow National Police Week, which runs May 12–May 18. In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15 National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15 falls as National Police Week. Established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962, National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others.
So far, in 2024, 58 law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty nationally. In total, 319 law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty in the state of Washington.
Fallen law enforcement officers in Clark County include:
• Officer Donald Sahota, Vancouver Police Department, 2022
• Sergeant Jeremy Brown, Clark County Sheriff’s Office, 2021
• Sergeant Brad Crawford, Clark County Sheriff’s Office, 2004
• Trooper James Gain, Washington State Patrol, 1987
• Deputy Sheriff Martin Sowders, Clark County Sheriff’s Office, 1976
• Trooper Don Campbell, Jr., Washington State Patrol, 1951
• Special Agent Ernest Vlasich, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, 1932
• Special Agent Ballard Turner, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, 1932
• Sheriff Lester Wood, Clark County Sheriff’s Office, 1927
• Deputy Sheriff Wilfred Rorison, Clark County Sheriff’s Office, 1922
Fallen K-9s in Clark County include:
• K-9 Ike, Vancouver Police Department, 2015
• K-9 Kane, Clark County Sheriff’s Office, 2011
• K-9 Dakota, Vancouver Police Department, 2007
• K-9 Lucky, Clark County Sheriff’s Office, 1990
• K-9 Brie, Clark County Sheriff’s Office, 1987
Information provided by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
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