MERIDIAN, Idaho — Hundreds of people gathered at the Idaho Peace Officers' Memorial in Meridian on Thursday morning to honor the lives of Idaho officers who died in the line of duty.
The annual ceremony is part of a larger celebration for National Police Week, which honors the men and women in law enforcement. During the event, members of the community, colleagues dressed in uniform, and families gathered to remember Idaho's fallen officers.
The names of 76 fallen Idaho officers carved in stone were read aloud to those in attendance.
Josh Royse, a board member for the Idaho Peace Officers' Memorial, remembered his grandfather, Verne M. Royse, who died in the line of duty in 1968.
"This memorial was dedicated in 1998," he said. "I actually was here for that. I was a high school student here in Meridian and my aunt brought my cousins and I out to honor my great grandfather Verne Royse who's on the wall. And so, this memorial has been near and dear to my heart since its inception in 1998."
Some may be wondering if the list of fallen officers etched in stone included Ada County Deputy Tobin Bolter, who was recently killed in the line of duty on April 21. His name was not read on Thursday.
"Our board of directors process for accepting names on to Idaho's peace officer's memorial, they first need to be accepted and honored in Washington D.C., which, unfortunately, deputy bolter was killed in the line of duty so close to the national ceremony that he has not been inscribed on the national wall yet," he said.
However it doesn't mean Deputy Bolter wasn't remembered at the annual ceremony. A wreath with his name was presented, and Ada County Lieutenant Joseph Derosier gave a few remarks about who Deputy Bolter was. Bolter's name will be read next year, Royse said.
"We want to make sure that we honor their memory and never forget their sacrifice and continue that ongoing obligation to always remember them and their family members as well," Royse said.
As previously reported, the 76 fallen officers were also honored with a candlelight vigil the night before.
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