MILTON — Residents this week honored law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty during the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office Law Enforcement Memorial Service.
Sheriff Bob Johnson opened and closed the event and Naval Air Station Whiting Field Commander Capt. Todd Bahlau was the guest speaker.
This year, 44 United States officers have died, 15 from gunfire, according to Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson.
“The average age of the officer is 42 and the average tour of duty was 14 years and eight months, which tells you that even vet officers can even get attacked," he said during Tuesday's ceremony.
Several members of Bahlau’s family are in law enforcement; his grandfather is a police officer in Jackson, Mich.; his mother is a 9-1-1 dispatcher; his twin brother is a conservation officer in Michigan; his younger brother is a lieutenant with the Michigan state police; and his oldest son, Nicholas, is a state trooper with the Florida Highway Patrol in Orlando.
“I have the highest respect for all you do on a daily basis and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for keeping us safe,” Bahlau said, addressing those in law enforcement.
Capt. Shane Tucker read the names of the six Florida officers and one K-9 killed in the line of duty in 2016 along with their end-of-watch dates, the day they died.
Deputy Sheriff Henry McAleenan, Jr., Miami-Dade Police Department
End of Watch: March 6
Deputy Sheriff John Kotfila, Jr., Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
End of Watch: March 12
Sgt. Jorge Ramos, Florida Department of Corrections
End of Watch: May 1
Deputy Sheriff Michael Williams, Taylor County Sheriff’s Office
End of Watch: Oct. 31
Maj. Jorge Sanchez, Miami Police Department
End of Watch: Nov. 1
Deputy Sheriff Eric Oliver, Nassau County Sheriff’s Office
End of Watch: Nov. 22
K-9 Forest, Volusia County Sheriff’s Office
End of Watch: Nov. 22
REMEMBERING THE FALLEN
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Santa Rosa residents remember Florida's fallen officers