County honors fallen officers
Donald A. Promnitz/The Madera Tribune Madera County Sheriff Jay Varney speaks at the 10th annual Madera County Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony at Memorial Courthouse Park, on Tuesday.
Annual ceremony at Memorial Courthouse Park
Officers from agencies across Madera County came to honor their fallen comrades at the 10th annual Madera County Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony.
The Tuesday service at Memorial Courthouse Park, was in remembrance of county officers who died in the line of duty, along with those who lost their lives across California in the previous year.
According to California Highway Patrol Lt. Kevin Clays, 11 officers, along with five K-9 officers, died in service in 2016. In Madera County, eight personnel have given their lives since the death of Madera Police Night Watchman Bernard McCluskey in 1919.
The lives of these officers were honored by a rifle salute from the CHP Central Division Honor Guard Team, the laying of the wreath by Chowchilla Police Chief David Riviere, and the ringing of the Bell of Honor seven times.
“The first six tolls are to honor those who have responded, served, protected, defended, sacrificed and suffered,” said Madera County Sheriff Jay Varney. “The seventh toll signifies the loss of life in the line of duty.”
