LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) - Lima and Allen County law enforcement gathered on Wednesday to honor the fallen officers who have served in the line of duty.
The annual memorial service for fallen police officers was held at the FOP Lima Lodge to pay tribute to the officers who gave their lives protecting and serving our area. Lima mayor Sharetta Smith and county commissioner Brian Winegardener spoke, as well as Lima Police chief James Baker.
A 21 gun salute was performed by Allen County Sheriff's deputies and Lima Police officers as well as the wreath laying ceremony and recognition of officers who have passed. During Chief Baker's speech, he had one key word he emphasized to his fellow officers: remember.
The annual memorial service for fallen police officers was held to pay tribute to the officers who gave their lives protecting and serving our area.
"Unfortunately, culturally, over the last several years, maybe in a decade, we've moved away from ceremony, we've moved away from remembrance," said Baker. "Remembering your past is foundational to your future, and so that was the emphasis of remembering, remembering those that've gone before us, remembering why we do what we do. Sometimes, when you get into the day to day to day, you kind of forget. It's really good to remember."
Chief Baker will be retiring at the end of June this year and when he looks back on his career and what lies ahead, he says the future of law enforcement in Lima is in great hands.
"It feels like a blink - it's just so crazy how fast 33 years go and then how much the new people coming on look like kids," said Baker. "But it's very, very exciting, because you see the excitement, you see some of the ideas. They have ideas, they have different things of thinking about, and it's just wonderful to hear them."
The memorial was held just before National Police Week, which is observed from May 11th through May 17th.
