The Danville Police Department held a Peace Officers Memorial Day Service Thursday, May 15, at 1 Community Way in memory of those officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Six officers have died in the line of duty in Danville; five from the Department and one from the Danville Sheriff’s Office.

“Like every officer who serves today, each of the fallen from our ranks prepared to go to work that day, putting on the uniform and pinning on the badge, not knowing what opportunities, challenges, or risks they may face while they went about their duty to serve our community,” Chief Chris Wiles said.

The Department’s first line of duty loss occurred on Friday, Sept. 7, 1883. On that date, three-year department veteran Officer J.C. Parks died as a result of gunfire. Officer Parks tried to secure a man’s firearm which he had used to threaten his wife; the man fired the weapon which struck Parks. A struggle between the two ensued until others finally subdued the suspect.

On Saturday, March 7, 1896, a prisoner shot and killed Deputy Sergeant William A. Cook, while attempting to escape from the city jail. The pistol used was smuggled into the jail. Cook was killed four days before his 55th birthday.

On Friday, Oct. 12, 1917, Officer William H. McCray, a 26-year veteran, was shot and killed while entering the home of a barricaded person. The male suspect wounded other officers before ultimately being killed by law enforcement officials.

On Tuesday, June 14, 1921, Officer John P. Jones was just six months into his career when he was shot and killed by a shotgun rigged to the door of a local store. While on night shift, Jones noticed the door was partially opened, and went to investigate. When he opened the door, he was struck by the shotgun blast that the store owner had set for the purpose of catching burglars.

On Thursday, Nov. 10, 2005 Officer Courtney Lamont Dickerson was responding to an alarm call when he was involved in a motor vehicle crash that took his life. He was ejected from the car and died later that night. He was one year into his career.

On Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, Officer Bonnie Jones, a 17-year veteran, died after contracting COVID-19 while working. Officer Jones was one of many peace officers to succumb to COVID-19 in the United States as a result of their job, to which required face-to-face interaction with the community while most were still in quarantine.

During the service, a rose was placed in memory of each person lost in the line of duty, and a bell rang in their honor. The Danville Police Department Honor Guard also played Taps. Police Chaplain Jeff Lynch offered a benediction.

In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15 falls, as National Police Week. Established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962, National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others.

This past weekend, the Danville Police Department Honor Guard assisted in Washington, D.C. with the arrival of families of fallen officers who had their names inscribed at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Participating officers were Corporal Matthew Gleber, Officer Marlene Carlson, Cpl. Jason Thornton, and Lieutenant Richard Marlowe.