Honoring Courage. Saluting Sacrifice.
ROCKWALL, TX (May 13, 2022) With National Police Week underway, county and city officials, law enforcement and community members gathered this morning for the The Rockwall County Law Enforcement Police Officer Memorial Commemoration, hosted by Rest Haven Memorial Park. Royse City Police Chief Kirk Aldridge welcomed the crowd in the Public Service Garden at Rest Haven’s First Responder Memorial.
Chief Aldridge said that since January, there have been 105 officers killed in the United States. The average age of those officers was 42 years old. The average length of service for those officers was 16 years, seven months. And unfortunately, Texas leads the nation in those deaths. Since the first recorded death in 1786, 23,299 U.S. law enforcement officers have made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting their communities.
The commemoration event opened with the Rockwall Police Department Honor Guard presenting the colors. Chaplain Stephen Grays of the Royse City Police Department shared a moving prayer. Rockwall County District Attorney Kenda Culpepper then took the podium, followed by Rockwall County Judge David Sweet.
“When the Chief talks about how many officers have been killed in Texas over the last year, it’s overwhelming. It’s absolutely overwhelming,” Culpepper said. “We prosecutors see the brave acts that law enforcement does every single day, and we are so incredibly proud to stand beside you in the fight. Along with you, we mourn the brave men and women who have given their lives in the noble pursuit of keeping our communities safe. We know that we owe our very lives to you – getting into that fray, running to the battle. Thank you so very much for your service, and truly, truly know that we stand right beside you.”
Rockwall County Judge David Sweet read aloud a proclamation in which the Rockwall County Commissioner’s Court proclaimed the week of May 11-17, 2022 as National Police Week in Rockwall County, TX, and urged all citizens to express their appreciation and support for all our law enforcement personnel.
Chief Aldridge also recognized the sacrifice and honored the memory of Rockwall Police Officer Tracy Gaines. Gaines’ family was present at the event and thanked everyone for their continued support since the officer’s passing nearly two years ago.
Rockwall County law enforcement leaders read aloud the names of the fallen officers over the past six months. Jacob Vaughn, Royse City High School Trumpeter, played Taps. Chaplain Robert Beaumont of the Rockwall Police Department led the closing prayer.
Names of Texas Fallen Officers
Read by Asst. Chief Ed Fowler
Deputy Robert Adam Howard
Harris County Sheriff’s Officer
End of Watch Wednesday, May 11, 2022
Deputy Constable Jennifer Chavis
Harris County Constable’s Office – Precinct 7
End Of Watch: Saturday, April 2, 2022
Deputy Sheriff Darren Almendarez
Harris County Sheriff’s Office
End Of Watch: Thursday, March 31, 2022
Sergeant Barbara Majors Fenley
Eastland County Sheriff’s Office
End of Watch: Thursday, March 17, 2022
Correctional Officer Lonnie D. Johnson, Jr.
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
End Of Watch: Sunday, March 6, 2022
Police Officer David Glen Evans
San Antonio Police Department
End Of Watch: Friday, February 25, 2022
Deputy Constable Neil Adams
San Jacinto County Constable’s Office – Precinct 1
End Of Watch: Wednesday, February 23, 2022
Read by FDPS Chief Lyle Lombard
Police Officer Lonnie Sneed
Double Oak Police Department
End Of Watch: Tuesday, February 15, 2022
Correctional Officer Kay W. Zeger, Jr.
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
End Of Watch: Sunday, February 13, 2022
Corporal Sheli Godbold
Pantego Police Department
End Of Watch: Thursday, February 10, 2022
Correctional Officer John Baron Broadaway
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
End Of Watch: Tuesday, February 8, 2022
Police Officer John Mestas
Double Oak Police Department
End Of Watch: Monday, February 7, 2022
Police Officer Chris Bardwell
Cross Roads Police Department
End Of Watch: Tuesday, February 1, 2022
Read by RSO Chief Deputy Keith McKnight
Deputy Sheriff Laquintin J. Wilson
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
End Of Watch: Tuesday, February 1, 2022
Sergeant Burke N. Hannibal
Gonzales County Sheriff’s Office
End Of Watch: Monday, January 31, 2022
Deputy Sheriff Lorin Marie Readmond
Loving County Sheriff’s Office
End Of Watch: Saturday, January 29, 2022
Police Officer Christopher Wayne Berry
Vidor Police Department
End Of Watch: Tuesday, January 25, 2022
Sergeant Ramon Gutierrez
Harris County Sheriff’s Office
End Of Watch: Monday, January 24, 2022
Corporal Charles Galloway
Harris County Constable’s Office – Precinct 5
End Of Watch: Sunday, January 23, 2022
Read By HDPS Captain Morgan
Special Agent Anthony Salas
Texas Department of Public Safety
End Of Watch: Saturday, January 22, 2022
Police Officer Ramiro Perez
Shallowater Police Department
End Of Watch: Tuesday, January 18, 2022
Corrections Officer Mark A. Loecken
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
End Of Watch: Monday, January 10, 2022
Police Officer Franklin Joe
Lone Star College Police Department
End Of Watch: Tuesday, January 4, 2022
Police Officer Christopher Gibson
Dallas Police Department
End Of Watch: Sunday, January 2, 2022
Police Officer Wayne “Butch” Nowell, Jr.
Meridian Police Department
End Of Watch: Wednesday, December 29, 2021
Read By RCPD Lt. Nick Dial
Corporal Miguel E. Sanchez
Amarillo Police Department
End Of Watch: Monday, December 27, 2021
Sergeant James Earl Dement, Jr.
Friendswood Police Department
End Of Watch: Monday, December 27, 2021
Corporal Jack Lee Guthrie, Jr.
Dallas College Police Department
End Of Watch: Thursday, December 9, 2021
Senior Police Officer Eric Shawn Lindsey
Austin Police Department
End Of Watch: Sunday, December 5, 2021
Police Officer Richard Lee Houston, II
Mesquite Police Department
End Of Watch: Friday, December 3, 2021
Blue Ribbon News staff report. Photos by BRN Media.
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