Arkansas State Police officials honor fallen troopers

Relations gathered on the Arkansas State Police headquarters in Little Rock on Tuesday to pay tribute to state troopers who’ve died within the line of obligation.

The Arkansas State Police held its annual memorial ceremony to honor the 19 officers and two K9 officers who’ve died within the line of obligation within the division’s 87-year historical past.

State Police Lt. Col. Shawn Garner provided his condolences to the family and friends of fallen troopers, with the division’s honor guard presenting a rose for every officer.

“ASP is a household, and household all the time takes care of one another through the good instances and the dangerous instances,” Garner mentioned. “To the surviving households, all present, former and retired ASP personnel, you’re all the time household and the door of the Arkansas State Police is all the time open for you.”

Amongst these paying tribute was Dr. Wynona Bryant-Williams, whose husband, Trooper Louis Bryant, was shot and killed throughout a site visitors cease in 1984. She known as for extra civility each from group members and from the regulation enforcement officers who serve them.

“There may be nothing that any of us, the 19 relations can do on behalf of our relations that we honor at present, however maybe as a group we are able to begin constructing on progressive and constructive initiatives to rebuild the belief and respect of our cops,” Bryant-Williams mentioned.

A retired State Police commissioner, Bryant-Williams urged members of the general public to “see the individual behind the uniform,” which she mentioned usually represents disrespect and violence to those that encounter police. She mentioned the assist she’s acquired from different relations of fallen troopers has been essential to her therapeutic course of.

“Thanks for bringing some gentle in our lives. Thanks for bringing some peace into our lives. It has not been simple, however I say to you at present that we’re now not victims, we’re survivors.”

Tuesday’s memorial service comes forward of Nationwide Police Week, which begins on Sunday.