FLETC Hosts Joint Peace Officers Memorial Ceremony

The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) held its 27th annual ceremony Thursday, May 31, honoring those FLETC graduates who lost their lives in the performance of duty. The ceremony was a joint observance with other area law enforcement agencies in southeast Georgia, including the Brunswick Police Department, Glynn County Police Department, Glynn County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia State Patrol, and Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Almost 300 FLETC and Partner Organizations staff, community members, congressional staffers, students and family members attended the morning ceremony.

This year, eleven names were engraved upon the FLETC Graduates Memorial, bringing the total to 189 since the establishment of FLETC in 1970. Those honored were U.S. Park Police Officer Michael A. Boehm; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent John F. Capano; U.S. Capitol Police Officer James T. Chapin; Border Patrol Agents Hector R. Clark and Eduardo Rojas, Jr., of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); Deputy U.S. Marshals Derek W. Hotsinpiller and  John B. Perry; National Park Rangers Christopher Nickel and Julie A. Weir; U.S. Secret Service Special Agent Christopher J. Smith; and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agent Jaime J. Zapata. Area law enforcement agencies lost no officers or agents this past year.

FLETC Director Connie Patrick introduced the keynote speaker DHS Assistant Secretary for the Office for State and Local Law Enforcement Louis F. Quijas, and welcomed the full auditorium to the solemn ceremony.

“It’s about being part of a family – a family of hundreds of thousands of men and women across this great country who share your unwavering commitment to public service. We are a family of guardians that protect the longest running Democracy in the world, and the principles, and way of life that it embodies,” said Assistant Secretary Quijas. “That is why, when we hear of the tragic death of one of our colleagues, we hurt as a family, grieve as a family, and heal as a family.” 

The ceremony included the reading of the FLETC graduates honor roll of names by FLETC Assistant Director Michael Hanneld. Glynn County Sheriff Wayne Bennett read the state and local agencies honor roll of 40 names from area law enforcement agencies.

The CBP Field Operations Academy Honor Guard presented and retired the Colors while agency representatives from the eight agencies placed a wreath at the memorial in recognition of the fallen officers at the conclusion of the ceremony. 

“I offer our deepest sympathy to those of you who are family and friends of these fallen officers. I know you are proud of your loved ones who made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us,” stated Director Patrick. “All of these men and women whose names we will call today are recognized for their selfless service in life. We will grieve their loss, but today, we also celebrate their lives, and those they loved.”

For further information and a full listing of the FLETC Graduate Memorial, visit http://www.fletc.gov/about-fletc/fletc-graduates-memorial.

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