SAN ANGELO, Texas — A flag-raising ceremony was held Monday at San Angelo Police Department headquarters in honor of National Police Week.
National Police Week is held May 15-21, with National Police Memorial Day on May 15. National Police Week was established by a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress in 1962 to recognize law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. Law enforcement agencies across the nation hold ceremonies to honor fellow law enforcement officers who have given their lives in the line of duty.
In 2022, the names of 619 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty were added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. Concho County Sheriff's Office Officer Samuel Leonard and Sgt. Stephen Jones were among the names added to the 2022 Roll Call of Heroes this year. Leonard and Jones were killed while responding to a call in Eden in May 2021.
Speakers at Monday's ceremony included San Angelo Police Chief Frank Carter, Mayor Brenda Gunter and City of San Angelo City Manager Daniel Valenzuela.
Goodfellow Air Force Base Honor Guard raised the flag, followed by a 21-gun salute by the San Angelo PD's Honor Guard.
May 15, National Peace Officers Memorial Day, was enacted into law by President John F. Kennedy in 1962.
Here are officers from San Angelo and Abilene police departments who were killed in the line of duty:
- San Angelo Police Department Sgt. Korby Kennedy was killed in the line of duty - end of watch June 25, 2015. He was escorting a San Angelo Drag Boat Races boat parade from Lake Nasworthy to a local restaurant on Knickerbocker Road when a vehicle pulled out in front of his motorcycle. Kennedy died from his injuries at Shannon Medical Center. He served the SAPD for 20 years.
- Former San Angelo Police Officer (Austin PD Senior Police Officer) Jaime Padron was killed in the line of duty in Austin – end of watch April 6, 2012. He was killed when he responded to a report of a drunk man shoplifting at an Austin Walmart. During a struggle, the suspect, Brandon Daniel, took a small firearm from his pocket and shot Padron twice – once in the neck, once in the vest. Padron died at the scene. Daniel was later convicted of capital murder of a peace officer and sentenced to death. He was found dead in his prison cell in 2021. A park in San Angelo (formerly Rio Vista Park) was named after Padron and the Jaime Padron Memorial Ironbutt Run is held in San Angelo annually in his memory.
- San Angelo Police Officer Freddie Wagner was killed in a motorcycle crash – end of watch Aug. 6, 1955. He was leading a funeral procession.
- San Angelo Police Department Patrolman Charles Anderson was electrocuted while trying to light an arc lamp on South Oakes Street on the railroad tracks - end of watch Oct. 16, 1919.
- An ecumenical service will wrap up the week in San Angelo at 11 a.m. Friday, May 20, at Sierra Vista United Methodist Church, 4522 College Hills Blvd.
The Abilene Police Department held a peace officer memorial service May 4 at the old courthouse. No other plans have been made public.
- Abilene Police Department Det. Elise Ann Ybarra was killed in a two-vehicle crash – end of watch Aug. 6, 2017. Ybarra and two other detectives were on their way to Dallas at the time of the crash. She served on the APD for three years.
- Abilene Police Department Officer Rodney Holder was killed in a motorcycle crash – end of watch April 29, 2010. Holder served on the APD for 28 years.
- APD Officer Jeffrey McCoy was killed when his patrol unit was hit by an impaired driver. The driver was convicted of intoxicated manslaughter and sentenced to 20 years in prison. McCoy served the APD for 18 years.
- APD Officer James Spann was shot and killed after a hostage standoff – end of watch June 17, 1954. The suspect, who was also shot and wounded, was sentenced to 99 years in prison.
- APD Traffic Officer Billy Rose died in a motorcycle crash – end of watch Oct. 10, 1952. He was on the APD for two and a half years at the time of his death.
- APD Officer William Beam suffered a heart attack after a struggle with a drunk man – end of watch July 18, 1940. He served on the APD for more than 20 years.
An ecumenical service will wrap up the week in San Angelo at 11 a.m. Friday, May 20, at Sierra Vista United Methodist Church, 4522 College Hills Blvd.
