Ohio State Highway Patrol officers carry flags during a previous Union County Law Enforcement Memorial event. This year’s ceremony will be held tomorrow at 7 p.m. on the courthouse lawn. Held each year in May, the event pays tribute to officers who died in the line of duty and this year’s master of ceremonies is OSHP Lieutenant Shawn Cook.
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The community is invited to attend the “In the Line of Duty” Union County Law Enforcement Memorial on May 9 at 7 p.m. at the north lawn of the Union County Courthouse and Justice Center, 221 W. Fifth St.
The Union County Law Enforcement Memorial is a tribute to those who serve in the line of duty, and a reminder of this sacrifice is the statue that stands at the site of the ceremony: a peace officer kneeling with a folded American flag mourning the loss of his comrades.
The Union County Law Enforcement Memorial precedes National Police Week, which is May 12-18, held annually.
The courthouse will be lighted blue as part of “Light Ohio Blue,” a statewide campaign to show support to the law enforcement personnel who protect Ohio communities. Citizens are encouraged to show their support for fallen officers and law enforcement personnel by changing exterior lights to blue from May 9-15 this year.
Three Union County peace officers’ lives will be remembered at the local ceremony: Sheriff Forest S. Hager, Sergeant Roger Beekman, and Sheriff Harry Wolfe. Sheriff Hager died in the line of duty in a vehicle versus train accident on Sept. 23, 1927. Sergeant Beekman gave his life in service on Sept. 19, 1979, while responding to an alarm. Sheriff Wolfe was killed on Jan. 21, 1982, while investigating a burglar alarm.
Lieutenant Shawn Cook of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is this year’s master of ceremonies. Lt. Cook began his patrol career in September 2003 as a member of the 141st Academy Class. He earned his commission in March of the following year and was assigned to the Defiance Post. Lt. Cook was selected as Post Trooper of the Year five times; District Trooper of the Year twice; and State Trooper of the Year in 2012. He earned the Ace Award for excellence in auto larceny enforcement three times and the Criminal Patrol Award twice.
As a trooper, he also served at the Van Wert Post. In 2014, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and remained at the Van Wert Post to serve as an assistant post commander. As sergeant, he also served at the Lima Post.
Lt. Cook served in the U.S. Army National Guard from 1998 to 2005. He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice law enforcement from Tiffin University in 2019.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol (O.S.H.P.) honor guard will post the colors for the memorial, and Chaplain John Young of the O.S.H.P. will be officiating.
Trooper Jerome Thomas will sing the National Anthem, and “Taps” will be played by Lieutenant Kelly Weakley, both of the O.S.H.P.
Fire Inspector Jack Guyton of Concord Township Fire Department (Delaware County) will play the bagpipes during the ceremony.
Area peace officers will participate in the ceremony as a tribute to those who have given their lives and to honor their dedication for service.
The public is invited and encouraged to attend the memorial ceremony, free of charge. Please attend in honor of peace officers who have died in the line of duty and those who continue to protect and serve our great community.
In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved to the Union County Veteran’s Memorial auditorium at 233 W. Sixth St.