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‘The ultimate sacrifice’: Law enforcement personnel gather for Peace Officers Memorial Day

Published 2:30 am Saturday, May 14, 2022

By Michael S. Lockett

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Law enforcement personnel salute as officer lay a ceremonial wreath on the grave of a dead officer at Evergreen Cemetery for Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 13, 2022.
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Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire

Law enforcement personnel salute as officer lay a ceremonial wreath on the grave of a dead officer at Evergreen Cemetery for Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 13, 2022.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Law enforcement personnel salute as officer lay a ceremonial wreath on the grave of a dead officer at Evergreen Cemetery for Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 13, 2022.
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Law enforcement personnel salute as officers lay a ceremonial wreath on the grave of a dead officer at Evergreen Cemetery for Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 13, 2022.
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Lt. Jeremy Weske of the Juneau Police Department reads the rolls of the dead during a ceremony for Peace Officers Memorial Day at Evergreen Cemetery on May 13, 2022.
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Lt. Krag Campbell of the Juneau Police Department salutes as officers lay a wreath on the grave of an officer who was killed on duty during a Peace Officers Memorial Day ceremony at Evergreen Cemetery on May 13, 2022.
A wreath is laid on the grave of Donald T. Dull, a Juneau police officer killed on duty in 1964, during a Peace Officers Memorial Day ceremony at Evergreen Cemetery on May 13, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Members of law enforcement organizations across Juneau came together at Evergreen Cemetery on Friday afternoon in honor of Peace Officers Memorial Day, recognizing law enforcement officers killed on duty.

Dozens of law enforcement personnel stood in formation for wreath layings and benedictions by the Rev. Gordon Blue of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church while a crowd looked on.

“It’s an honor to be here today to show all our support to our law enforcement brothers and sisters who made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Juneau Police Department Chief Ed Mercer. “It’s a testament to our profession that we follow through with this every year to show our support for our fallen officer and support for our current officer.”

Wreaths were laid at the graves of Officer Richard Adair, who was killed alongside Officer Jimmy Kennedy while responding to a call in 1979. Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park in the Mendenhall Valley is named in their honor. Adair had spent a decade as part of JPD, while Kennedy, a Navy veteran, was coming up on two years in the department, the Empire previously reported. The two were killed by a man experiencing a mental health crisis, who shot and injured a neighbor and killed both officers before dying by suicide.

Officers also laid a wreath at the grave of Chief of Detectives Donald T. Dull, the first law enforcement officer to be killed in Juneau.

• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at (757) 621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.

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