Crime & Safety
Remembering Jefferson County's Fallen Heroes on Peace Officers Memorial Day
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Law enforcement officers, government and community leaders gathered on Wednesday to remember the peace officers who died in the line of duty in Jefferson County.
It was a way to honor fallen officers on Peace Officers Memorial Day.
In a small gathering at the Jefferson County Law Enforcement Memorial at the sheriff's department in Hillsboro, Lt. Col. Steve Meinberg and others read the names of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice during their law enforcement career, dating back to De Soto Police Marshall Willis Dearing, who died Dec. 16, 1897 after being shot by an intoxicated man he pursued from a restaurant.
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Marino F. Vidoli, ATF Special Agent in Charge of Kansas City Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) was the keynote speaker of the memorial service ceremony, which also featured the singing of the National Anthem by Hillsboro Mayor Frank Roland.
The flag at the Jefferson County administrative building was lowered to half staff as deputies from the sheriff's department fired a 21-gun salute and played Taps. Bill Velders played Amazing Grace on the bagpipe.
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