Fallen Law Enforcement Officers Honored

By: Boundary County Chaplain Corps

On May 13, 2022, at 8:00 pm at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., law enforcement officers who fell in the line of duty in 2021 will be honored during the 35^th Annual Candlelight Vigil. Here in Bonners Ferry, the Boundary County Sheriff’s Office and Chaplain Corps will host our local memorial observance at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 13^th, to reflect and read the list of those that lost their lives in the line of duty last year, and encourage the living. The venue is the lawn in front of the Sheriff’s Office in downtown Bonners Ferry. Everyone is invited to attend.

The ceremony will feature our local honor guard, a memorial wreath presentation, a traditional last call, and, especially, the reading of the line of duty death list.

New names of fallen officers are carved on the blue-gray walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Monument each spring in conjunction with National Police Week. Included in the national list are the names of 481 officers who died in the line of duty in 2021, along with many other names from prior years. This year, due to the overwhelming number of names of those who died in the line of duty, including Covid contracted while serving, we will for the first time read the names of all Idaho peace officers who have died in the line of duty since records began in 1883, a total of 74 names.

Please come and help demonstrate that we, as a community, are among those that feel the hurt of the families and agencies who have lost loved ones and colleagues, and that we stand behind the thin blue line with gratitude.

In the event of significant rainfall, the event will move across the street to the upstairs meeting hall in the City of Bonners Ferry Fire Station 1. For more information about our local remembrance, or to volunteer to assist with the event, please contact BFPD Chaplain Len Pine at 208-267-3327.