NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — An annual memorial service honoring Nashville police officers who have died in the line of duty was held on Monday morning.
The Andrew Jackson Lodge No. 5 Fraternal Order of Police hosted its yearly memorial service at First Baptist Church. Since 1875, 46 law enforcement professionals have lost their lives in the line of duty in Metro Nashville. The service featured a roll call of their names.
"Despite all the noise nationally, and sometimes even locally, let us remember who police officers are as humans and the commitment to service they share," said Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake. "As we carry out our duties each day, we must rise to the challenge of carrying on the tradition of those who have gone before us and who have laid down their lives for our great city. Those we honor today would have expected nothing less."
In the Metro Police Department, more than 40 law enforcement officers lost their lives while in service. Their pictures lined two tables at the service.
Chief Drake was the keynote speaker at the memorial. Watch his speech below:
He read the names of the seven colleagues who have died in the line of duty since he has been on the force. He said his hope is that next May there will be no new names on the program and no new pictures added to the tables.
National Police Week begins this week. It focuses on officer safety and wellness and includes, among other things, encouraging daily workouts and wellness screenings. And a national, virtual candlelight vigil is planned for Thursday night at 7 p.m.
