CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL
May 19, 2009

Good evening, family and friends of our fallen Officers and my Law Enforcement colleagues.  It is a privilege for me to speak with you as we recognize the sacrifice made by the 48 Officers whose names are forever preserved on our Peace Officers’ Memorial.  I am especially grateful for the opportunity to address you, the family members of our fallen comrades.

This ceremony, and the tradition that surrounds it, are incredibly important to all of our Orange County Law Enforcement personnel and the families of our fallen Officers.  It marks an annual opportunity for us to collectively honor these Officers for their sacrifice and reaffirm to their survivors that they will always hold a place of honor among their Law Enforcement colleagues. 

These Officers deserve our respect and admiration for many reasons: 

• They made a decision to contribute to the safety and security of our communities.
• They took an Oath to carry out their duties with honor, courage and integrity; and they did so.
• Their willingness to assume the tremendous responsibility associated with being a Peace Officer resulted in their untimely death.

Our ceremony this evening, as well as the memorial to be conducted tomorrow, is also for you, the families and friends of our fallen Officers.  Just as we will never forget the sacrifice of these Officers, we will also never forget your sacrifice.  May God provide you with peace and comfort and the knowledge that your loved ones represent the best that the human race has to offer.  It is a time of remembrance, a time to pay tribute and a time of fellowship.  Thankfully, this year’s ceremony also allows us the peace and satisfaction of knowing that for the fourth year in a row no additional names will be added to our Memorial. 

We all know upon entering our profession that the demands are high and the risks are great.  It is a source of constant amazement and admiration to witness our Law Enforcement Officers meet so many difficult challenges with determination, character and compassion.  The same can be said for the families and loved ones of our Law Enforcement Officers, for the demands placed on them are oftentimes equally difficult to endure.  No matter what difficulties have been overcome previously, the sudden death of a Police Officer creates a void that is unfillable and places a crushing weight on his/her family.

On this, the annual occasion on which we come together to recognize the ultimate sacrifice made by the 48 Officers whose names adorn our Memorial, we have also come together to recognize your loss, your courage, and to share in your grief. 

I’d like to recognize the many Officers who arrived here today after cycling from our State Capitol to honor and bring recognition to those Orange County Peace Officers whose lives ended much too soon.  Your efforts to honor our fallen Officers are inspirational and very much appreciated.

Law Enforcement Officers are special.  They are set apart from others in many ways: 

• Their willingness to run towards trouble, despite the personal risk.
• Their ability to act with compassion, despite constant exposure to the worst that humans have to offer.
• Their willingness to risk their life for someone they’ve never met.
• The list goes on and on. 

It takes a special person to be a Law Enforcement Officer, and it takes special people to love, live with and support them.

The Officers whose names are engraved on our Peace Officers’ Memorial gave to their communities something that can never be repaid.  We can, and do, however, honor their memories and their sacrifice by publicly acknowledging our debt to them and to you, their loved ones.  We will also honor their memories by making every effort possible to avoid adding even one more name to this Memorial. 

On behalf of my colleagues of the Orange County Chiefs’ of Police and Sheriff’s Association, please accept our gratitude for the many contributions you and your loved ones made to our communities, as well as our sincere condolences for your loss.

Read Chief Paul Sorrell's opening comments at the 2009 Peace Officers' Memorial