Lemoore well represented at annual Kings County Peace Officers' Memorial event

The event’s keynote speaker, Lemoore Chief of Police Darrell Smith, spoke Wednesday morning about the role peace officers play in society, often facing life and death situations, and the sacrifices they continually make.

The color guard marches in to Wednesday's Kings County Peace Officers' Memorial.

Gary Feinstein/Feinsteinfotos

Officers from local agencies attended the solemn event, including the Lemoore Police Department, Hanford Police Department, the United States Navy, California Highway Patrol, and others.

“My introduction began with how national mainstream media has portrayed law enforcement in a negative light,” said Smith. “I said this couldn’t be further from the truth here in our county. In Kings County, our citizens support all of public safety.”

Smith went on to lament how anti-police rhetoric is harming society and the dangerous effect it can have on law enforcement officers as they do their job keeping communities safe.

“The overall theme focused on why we choose to be in law enforcement and the sacrifices made for the profession,” he added. He said that in 2017, 129 peace officers were killed in the line of duty nationwide. “We often forget to thank our peace officers for their service until circumstances remind us of how special their service truly is.”

Smith also referred to the recent incident at West Hills College Lemoore, a reminder of just how dangerous the officer’s job can be. “The emotions that all of the staff, parents, and community members felt that day, are the emotions that every family member of a peace officer feels every time their loved ones leave to start their duty shift, not knowing if this will be the last time they see them.”

When others run from danger, a peace officer runs towards the threat, Smith said.