The officers who gathered may not have known their slain comrades whose names hang in bronze at the state Capitol.
But the brotherhood and sisterhood they share as part of the law-enforcement family was cele-brat-ed last week as the more than 90 slain Utah officers were remembered.Robert Kirby, a former police officer and current researcher, writer and columnist, continues to look for slain officers who have been relegated to the "back shelf of history."
With the Utah Peace Officers Memorial hanging over his right shoulder, Kirby admonished both officers and the public to remember. Don't kill the officers a second time by letting them be forgotten, he said. Instead, they should be revered.
More than 14,000 police officers have been killed in the United States. That is one about every 55 hours, on average.
Utah Attorney General Jan Graham said their footsteps live on. After the death of Utah Highway Patrol trooper Dennis Lund in 1993, Graham said she wrote down her feelings and the words that kept coming to her were: honor, duty and service.
"Those we honor today started each day of their long service knowing that day could be the day," she said.
The gap without them can't be filled, but their code of honor can be an example to others, Graham said.
The Utah Peace Officers Association began Thursday with a morning flag-raising. Activities will continue as Law Enforcement Memorial Week gets under way in the state and throughout the nation May 11.
Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Larry Wehrli said the week is designed to honor slain officers and help people remember all officers, who are a part of the fabric of the community.
The memorial week also indicates the dangers of law en-force-ment.
"These are a reminder there are officers out there in a scenario that today could be the last day of their lives," he said.
There are more than 7,000 law enforcement officers in the state, said Wehrli, who is also the president of the Utah Peace Officer Association.
The week activities will include awards banquets and mall presentations. There will also be interviews with police officials on three local radio stations, including an interview with the incident commander at the bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building. Maj. Garold Spencer will also speak at Weber State University May 15.
Relatives of officers who died in the line of duty are invited to attend a special memorial service at 9 a.m. Thursday, May 15, in front of the Salt Lake City Police Department, 315 E. 200 South.
Those with questions can call Salt Lake Police Capt. Judy Dencker at 799-3725 during the day or Lt. Steve Diamond after 10 p.m. at 799-3031.