Idaho Falls hosts National Peace Officer Memorial Day ceremony

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)- The Bonneville County Sheriff's Office and the Idaho Falls Police Department hosted a National Peace Officer Memorial Day ceremony Friday night. It took place at the Bonneville County Courthouse. It is held every year on May 15th.

The service recognized 363 names of those who were killed in the line of duty across the United States and remember the families that were left behind. Bonneville County Sheriff Sam Hulse and Idaho Falls Police Chief Bryce Johnson both addressed the audience.

"It is our solemn obligation to never forget," says Hulse. "It's challenging, but also cathartic for us to remember them and not just for how they died, but for who they are.

The names of Idaho's 80 fallen heroes and seven fallen K-9's were read as an electronic candle was placed in a glass represented each hero.

Hulse says the odds are that law enforcement will never stop losing their lives in the line of duty. So he says it's important to honor the willingness to serve.

"To me, that's what matters. The fact that we still have men and women that answered the call. How different our society would be if we didn't have people willing to do that."