Home

Peace Officers Memorial Held in California

May 8, 2012

Nearly a thousand family, friends, and co-workers of California Police Officers who died in the line in duty last year gathered just outside the state capitol Sunday night to remember their fallen heroes.

A folded American flag is left on a wagon at the Peace Officers Memorial during ceremonies in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, May 7, 2012. Gov. Jerry Brown joined state officials and hundreds of law enforcement officers in paying tribute to eight officers who died in the line of duty last year and 10 past fallen officers.

May 06--SACRAMENTO -- Nearly a thousand family, friends, and co-workers of California Police Officers who died in the line in duty last year gathered just outside the state capitol Sunday night to remember their fallen heroes.

The vigil featured Vallejo Police Chief Robert Nichelini as the keynote speaker, who told the story of Vallejo officer Jim Capoot who died last November while pursuing a bank robbery suspect.

"It's twice as hard," said Nichelini.

Colleen Johansen is Solano County dispatcher who was on duty when Capoot was killed. She says she didn't know him personally, but felt compelled to come to the capitol and pay her respects.

"Any time you hear of an officer hurt or killed you feel horrible, it didn't matter than I didin't know him, we are all family."

In 2011 there were eight California police officers killed while wearing their respective badges.

The vigil is part of a weekend long ceremony that will feature a memorial service Monday.