LIMA — With the loss of Sgt. David Gillispie still weighing heavily on the minds of area law enforcement, members of 13 local agencies came together for a memorial service Wednesday to honor those police officers who have died.
“This is a time for both remembering and celebrating,” said Lima Police Chief Kevin Martin, who was the keynote speaker at the 24th annual Police Memorial Service.
Martin said the memorial service, which is hosted annually by the Lima Fraternal Order of Police, serves as an opportunity to remember those who have given the “ultimate sacrifice.”
“Their sacrifice was far too great for us to ever forget,” he said. “We owe it not only to them, but to their families and their descendents, to never forget … their bravery and willingness to place others above themselves. Even at the cost of their very own lives.”
In 2015, 123 federal, state and local law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty throughout the United States, an increase of 1 percent over the previous year. As of April 23, 33 officers have been killed in 2016. This marks a 3 percent increase over the same time last year.
In Allen County, no officers were killed in the line of duty since last year’s memorial service. However, Gillispie and two retired officers — Chief Richard Rohrbaugh of the Fort Shawnee Police Department and LPD Patrolman Willis Meier — have died since last May.
Gillispie, who was a sergeant with the LPD, took his own life March 21.
“As the recent, very tragic loss of Sgt. Gillispie has served to remind us all, sometimes we suffer wounds that, though they are not visible, run every bit as deep as any wound that could be inflicted by a knife-wielding suspect,” Martin said. “Let us reflect on the loss of Sgt. Gillispie in a way that will allow us to better look after the emotional and mental well-being of each other.”
Martin told the dozens of officers present at the memorial service to remember that mental health services are available, and urged them to speak up if they notice one of their colleagues is having trouble.
“If that colleague of yours were about to confront someone with a known violent history, you wouldn’t hesitate to tell them about that,” he said. “In that same spirit, we need to back each other up by looking out for each other’s emotional and mental well-being.”
Along with honoring fallen officers, Martin also acknowledged current and retired law enforcement members and their families.
“As we remember the sacrifices made by others serving within various law enforcement professions, let us also remember the sacrifices made by our families,” he said. “We depend so very much on our loved ones for support on a daily basis, so to all of your family members in the audience, thank you for standing with us.
“We could not do what we do without you.”
Despite the dangers that come with being in law enforcement, Martin described being called to the profession as a “blessing.”
“No matter if you’re a police officer, a communications operator, a member of the clerical staff or you hold some other position within your department, you have a job that allows you to make a positive difference in the lives of others,” he said. “Let’s celebrate that.”
