The city of Longmont gathered inside the Civic Center to honor local officers who lost their lives in the line of duty on Monday.
Nearly 50 people gathered for a small ceremony to honor two Colorado officers who died in 2022; Police Officer Dillon Michael Vakoff of the Arvada Police Department and Deputy Sheriff Andrew Peery of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
Nationally, 245 police officers died in the line of duty in 2022.
“The police profession is a noble and honorable profession,” said Police Chief Jeff Satur. “Even in the most difficult times, peace officers continue to serve.”
The Peace Officer Memorial Day was created in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy and pays “special recognition to those law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others,” the city of Longmont website states.
Officer Brian Plyter of the Boulder Police Department shared that being a police officer is being part of a larger community. Plyter was among the many officers who responded to the King Soopers shooting in Boulder on March 22, 2021.
On that day, Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley died during the shooting. Plyter explained that the entire Boulder Police force wanted to attend their fallen brother’s funeral but was torn because they had a duty to protect their community. He shared that off-duty officers from neighboring law enforcement agencies stepped in, took over the Boulder Police duties and allowed those closest to Talley to mourn.
“To heal from a tragedy, in a department, requires community,” Plyter said.
Boulder County Sheriff Curtis Johnson recognized the importance of community but added that support is equally important.
“Over the past few years, we have had our fair share of tragedies in Boulder County … after all of those instances, we have seen our community step up and support,” Johnson said.
