Uintah County Sheriff's detective Kevin Orr was a hero — not just because of his law enforcement duties and the sacrifices he made to serve the community, but because of how he conducted himself in every day life.
"He was an outstanding husband and father," said his mother, Claudia Orr.
Kevin Orr lived like a hero and died a hero, his mother said.
This week Orr was one of two men honored during the 2007 annual Utah Law Enforcement Fallen Officers' Memorial Service. The names of Orr and U.S. Marshal J. Ray Ward were added Thursday to the list of more than 110 other men and one woman killed in the line of duty while serving as a peace officer for the state.
Orr, 34, died Nov. 22, 2006, a day after the helicopter he was a passenger in clipped a power line and crashed into the Green River. Two others were injured but survived the crash outside of Vernal. Orr was helping to search for a missing woman.
Orr's widow, Holley, and his mother were presented with Orr's Purple Heart medal during a moving, teary-eyed ceremony. His three young daughters, son and many relatives were in attendance at the Miller Campus Auditorium at Salt Lake Community College, 9750 S. 300 West. All of them wore buttons with Orr's picture.
"He was a fine man," Utah Peace Officers Association president Russell Lee said while brushing away tears as he made the presentation to Holley.
After the ceremony, two of Orr's sisters and his mother recalled how Kevin was a man who went beyond the call of duty to help others. He gave special attention to people trying to get off their drug habits.
"He had respect for the people he arrested. They treated him with respect," said Lisa Howe, his sister.
Orr grew up in Blanding. He had three sisters and three brothers. His twin brother also became a law enforcer for the San Juan County Sheriff's Office and was at Thursday's ceremony.
Orr loved to tell stories, and his family said everyone loved to listen no matter how many times they had heard the same story in the past. He also liked to cook and would also entertain relatives with magic shows that he and his son would perform.
"They don't come better than what he did," Howe said.
The other man honored Thursday was Ward. He was serving subpoenas in 1928 when his vehicle rolled in Bingham Canyon and he was killed. It was only recently his death was uncovered through records. The Peace Officers Association, however, has been unable to track down any of Ward's relatives. A representative from the Marshal's Office accepted Ward's Purple Heart medal on their behalf.
"They are my heroes. They should be your heroes. They should be the public's heroes," Clarke Christensen, president of the Utah Law Enforcement Memorial, said of all those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
After the ceremony, the new POST Fallen Officer Memorial was unveiled and dedicated inside the foyer of the new POST training facility at the Larry Miller campus.
Law enforcers also hope to have the new Utah Law Enforcement Memorial ready for dedication by next May. The original memorial, was dedicated inside the Capitol Rotunda in 1988. It was forced to find a new home, however, after renovation began on the Rotunda.
The new million-dollar memorial will be found on the west side of the Capitol grounds.
E-mail: preavyi@desnews.com