FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2024
Commissioners Issue Proclamation for Peace Officer Memorial
Day and Police Week in Douglas County
(Douglas County, Ore.) – Douglas County Commissioners Chris Boice, Tim Freeman, and Tom Kress were honored to be invited to part of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Peace Officer Memorial Day Ceremony held today, Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at the Douglas County Courthouse.
The special Peace Officer Memorial Day Ceremony takes place annually to honor and remember our Douglas County law enforcement officers that perished while in the line of duty. Sheriff John Hanlin opened the ceremony and welcomed the crowd to the annual remembrance ceremony. He expressed an appreciation to all the men and women who proudly don the police uniform and extended his sincere gratitude for the six Douglas County officers that lost their lives while standing up for the safety and protection of others. Sheriff Hanlin then acknowledged, thanked, and paid respect to the families of our fallen police officers. Lastly, he thanked the families of police officers and public safety officials past and present for their support and sacrifice.
Sheriff Hanlin introduced Commissioner Chris Boice who read a proclamation on behalf of all three of the Douglas County Commissioners proclaiming Wednesday, May 15, 2024, as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week of May 12-18, 2024, as Police Week in Douglas County. He called upon all citizens of Douglas County to “observe May 15, 2024, as Peace Officers Memorial Day in memory of our law enforcement officers, who through their courageous deeds, have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities, and asked them to also recognize and pay respect to the families of our fallen heroes.” He further proclaimed “May 12-18, 2024, as National Police Week in Douglas County, and called upon all citizens of Douglas County to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies in which all of our people may join in commemorating our law enforcement officers, past and present, who, by their faithful and loyal devotion to their profession, have rendered immeasurable service to their communities.”
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard then commenced with the Douglas County Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony with a call to attention by the Honor Guard. It was followed by a bagpipe performance of "The Green Hills of Tyrol" by an Honor Guard bagpiper. The Honor Guard then presented the colors and raised the Peace Officer Memorial Flag below the United States and Oregon Flag. Then respectfully lowered all three flags to half-staff status. Sheriff John Hanlin and Roseburg Police Chief Gary Klopfenstein then placed ceremonial wreaths on either side of the Douglas County Fallen Police Officer Memorial. DCSO 911 Communications Dispatch then conducted a special radio broadcast in honor of the fallen officers:
• Officer Donald DeSues - Roseburg Police Department - EOW August 7, 1959
• Special Deputy Ronald H. Terwilliger - Douglas County Sheriff's Office - EOW July 23, 1985
• Corporal Virgle D. Knight Jr. - Douglas County Sheriff's Office - EOW July 23, 1985
• Sergeant Gerald G. Chirrick - Douglas County Sheriff's Office - EOW July 23, 1985
• Deputy Morris L. Taylor - Douglas County Sheriff's Office - EOW September 14, 2002
• Deputy S. Allen Burdic - Douglas County Sheriff's Office - EOW March 11, 2021
The radio broadcast was followed by a 21-gun salute and the ceremonial playing of taps on the cornet, performed by members of the Honor Guard. The ceremony concluded with the traditional playing of "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes, a final call to attention, and dismissal.
Following the ceremony, Commissioner Boice, Commissioner Freeman and Commissioner Kress presented proclamation certificates to Sheriff John Hanlin and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office; Chief Gary Klopfenstein and the City of Roseburg Police Department; Chief Troy Mills and the City of Sutherlin Police Department; Chief Jonathan Brewster and the City of Myrle Creek Police Department; Chief Brandon Sarti and the City of Winston Police Department; Chief John Carter and the City of Reedsport Police Department; Chief Marty Case and the Cow Creek Tribal Police Department; Chief Timothy Plunkett and the Roseburg VA Health Care System Police Department; and George Masner and the Roseburg BLM Rangers Office. A special thank you to the City of Roseburg Fire Department, Douglas County Fire District #2 and many community members for their support and attendance.
A copy of the video presentation of the entire ceremony can be found on the Douglas County Government Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DouglasCountyeGovernment. To learn more about the National Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week visit https://nleomf.org/.
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Media Contact: Tamara Howell | Douglas County Emergency Communications & Community Engagement Specialist | Public Information Officer | Phone: (541) 957-4896 | Cell: (541) 670-2804 | Email: tamara.howell@douglascountyor.gov
Proclamation Attached. Photos © K.Trenkle/Douglas County. Individual photos available upon request.