It's happened 42 times in the history of Phoenix and it cannot be forgotten. Our first brother fell on February 5, 1925; the last one was on September 18, 2007. We have lost 33 police officers and nine firefighters. The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association (PLEA) and the City have partnered to erect historical markers at or near the locations where Phoenix officers and firefighters have made the ultimate sacrifice.

The death of a police officer or firefighter is a significant event in the history of any city. It is imperative that we not forget these brave men and women by knowing when and where it happened.

The signs are being produced and erected by City staff and paid for by PLEA.

The dedication of each historical sign is announced in advance so family and friends can pay their respects.

The signs are erected for those officers killed in the line of duty following the criteria set forth by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund http://www.nleomf.com/TheMemorial/addname.htm

The hope is that everyday officers and the citizens of Phoenix will see these signs and take a moment to reflect. Let the signs remind us all of their sacrifice, our City's history and hope that police officers and firefighters will be safe.

Walter Olsen is a detective with the Phoenix Police Department. You can reach him via email at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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