Kentucky paused today to remember seven law enforcement officers who died in 2022 and two who died decades ago.
Today's ceremony in Richmond had special meaning after a deputy shooting death earlier this week.
Every year we come, we come together and we honor those officers who have lost their lives.
This year, we honored nine officers, seven of which were killed last year.
All of them horrific acts needed to occur.
And we're just thankful that we had a beautiful day to get it for families and spend some time remembering their loved ones.
The Department of Justice training staff, they had this memorial here on their facility.
It's absolutely beautiful.
They do a great job leading up to the service to make it to make it beautiful, make it a special day.
It is an honor to join you today to recognize the men and women who serve in law enforcement every day and to help be with you.
As we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
In Scripture, we are told there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends.
We have seen this love in the lives and the sacrifices of Travis Early, Jerry Critchlow, Jodi Cash, Ralph Frazier, William Petrie, Jacob Chasen's and Logan Medlock.
Every single one of the seven officers we honored today are heroes.
They're also somebodies child, someone's sibling, someone's dad, someone who will be missed forever.
They are children of God that are irreplaceable to their families and their communities.
And their loss leaves a void, and we will miss them every single day.
And what we're showing today is we will never, ever, ever forget them.
It starts off as almost a graveside type service where you you think about your family and the loss as the day goes on and families start talking to each other.
They start telling those good stories, the stories of how they remember their loved ones, the things that were important to them.
They talk about their wives or their parents, their kids.
All the things that we would we get together as a family and remember someone that we've lost.
To those families whose loved ones we are honoring today.
Thank you for graciously sharing your children, spouses and parents with us in the name of a safer Kentucky.
Not only did your loved ones make the ultimate sacrifice, but you did too.
For that, you have the deepest and most profound thanks of myself and every single Kentuckian.
We will never forget your loved ones and the sacrifices that you made and you will continue to make alongside them.
Scott County deputy Caleb Conlee was also recognized during today's ceremony.
He was shot and killed in the line of duty earlier this week.
His name will be added to the memorial next year.
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