Evansville Police Department issued the following announcement on Aug. 5.
UPDATED 08-04-20: Oak Hill Cemetery, Honor Guard at Oak Hill Cemetery for Retired EPD Sergeant Mike Atherton.
MAY 15, 2020: In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. It is the tradition during this week that thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world would converge on Washington, DC to participate in a number of planned events which honor those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Those events did not take place this year because of the pandemic.
Honor guards are said to represent the highest ideals of the country or culture they belong to. And after attending Memorial Services for two Indiana Law Enforcement Officers killed in separate incidents during 2000, local officers were determined to organize an Honor Guard from their own ranks. At that time, EPD Sergeant Darren Sroufe (now retired) was a member of the State Fraternal Order of Police Critical Incident Team, an arm of the FOP that assists agencies and families of officers killed in the line of duty. Sroufe was instrumental in forming the contingent that would represent FOP Lodge #73. They received initial formal training at a school in Goshen, Indiana and were outfitted and equipped by Lodge 73—support that continues today.
Founding members of the FOP Lodge 73 Honor Guard were Jason Cullum, Kevin Day, Jeff Hales, Jason Short, Mike Sides, and Jack Spencer. In the 20 years since the Honor Guard was formed, a number of EPD Officers have participated in its service. The FOP Guard has also joined Honor Guards from Evansville Fire Department, Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana State Police and Department of Natural Resources for various events. And while memorial or funeral details are a priority, the FOP Honor Guard is present at special ceremonies and events, forever representing the dedication and sacrifice of law enforcement. @FOP Lodge #73
Original source can be found here.
Source: Evansville Police Department
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