Amarillo area law enforcement honor fallen officers
Amarillo area law enforcement gathered for a Police Officer Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony Monday morning at Llano Cemetery to pay tribute to local officers killed in the line of duty.
The holiday created in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy is an observance that pays tribute to the local, state and federal police officers killed in the line of duty. Officers from area police departments and the highway patrol read off names of officers from their departments lost in the line of duty at the ceremony.
Jimmy Johnson, assistant Amarillo Police Chief, spoke about the meaning of the day to him and his fellow officers.
“This is a day that has been set aside to recognize those men and women that have given their lives in service to their communities,” Johnson said. “We must continue to think about and honor these officers. It is easy for many to forget that many families still suffer from the loss of their family members in the ultimate sacrifice, so it is so important to honor their sacrifice.”
Randall County Sheriff Chris Forbis said it was an important moment for officers and others to remember the sacrifices that were made to keep the community safe.
“In this part of the country, we are so blessed that we have the support that we have, which was evident by the crowd that came out today,” Forbis said. “It is very important that we never forget those that have sacrificed themselves for others, especially in these times right now.”
Forbis said the ceremony with all the agencies coming out is indicative of the everyday cooperation that is exhibited with each of the law enforcement entities.
“This community of our law enforcement partners - we all support each other,” Forbis said. “We come together anytime we have tough times; we also come together to celebrate the lives of these officers that have given themselves in service. We are just so blessed that we work together as one family with no lines between us. If I wear a tan or a blue shirt, we are still all one family."
With the loss of off-duty Randall County Deputy Sgt. Jay Claxton in a crash while working on his boat, Forbis said Monday's ceremony had even more impact on him. During the ceremony, Forbis mentioned his loss and asked for prayers for his family. Claxton was coming up on his 20-year mark with the department in July.
“It is a tough day for us in our department,” Forbis said. “Sgt. Claxton was such a good man. He was an integral part of our agency. He will be missed. Sudden things like this are really hard.”
According to Forbis, 245 officers were lost in the line of duty last year, with 35 in Texas.
Forbis spoke about how many forget that these deaths continue to affect the families they were a part of and stressed the importance of remembering these officers.
“It is so important for us all to remember that these officers leave families behind and that anniversary rolls around every year and that pain always stays with them,” Forbis said.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo area law enforcement honor fallen officers at Llano Cemetery
