A ceremony Wednesday at the Santa Maria Police Department provided a time of remembrance, reverence and reflection while recognizing California’s three law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty last year.
“These officers were more than uniforms, more than titles,” City Manager David Rowlands said while serving as the keynote speaker for the Santa Maria Peace Officers Memorial ceremony. “They were fathers, sons, husbands, friends and neighbors. They stood between danger and safety, chaos and peace.
“They did so not for glory, not for recognition, but because they believed in service, in duty and in something greater than themselves.”
The ceremony also recognized those still serving as peace officers, with Rowlands expressing appreciation for their bravery, strength and sacrifice.
“You step forward each day with the same selfless resolve, knowing the risk and still choosing to protect,” he said. “This service is a tribute to you as well for your commitment, your integrity and your unbreakable bond with those who came before you.”
The annual ceremony occurred in the parking lot at the police station on West Betteravia Road, where members of multiple agencies from around the Central Coast participated in various ways.
Police Chief Christopher Williams, who took the helm of the Santa Maria department less than a month ago, read the names of the fallen officers as members of the Police Explorers placed flowers on a table with a memorial for the three men.
Other participants in Wednesday’s ceremony included Mayor Alice Patino, reading a proclamation, with Officer Jacob Gregory singing the national anthem.
“Let this ceremony be more than a ritual,” Rowlands said. “Let it be a promise, a promise that we will always remember, that we will always honor, that we will continue the mission our fallen heroes began — building a community rooted in safety, respect and justice.”
Santa Maria’s ceremony will be followed by another planned by the Santa Barbara Police Department to note National Police Week at 10 a.m. Thursday on the station’s front steps at 215 E. Figueroa St.
“National Police Week is a time for reflection, gratitude and renewed purpose,” said Lt. Paul Van Meel from the Santa Maria agency’s Detective Bureau.
“It is a reminder that the work law enforcement officers perform matters and that behind every badge is a story of courage and commitment worth honoring,” Van Meel added.
