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The Daily ReView
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LPD honors fallen officers
The Laurel Police Department had a memorial service to honor the fallen and wounded heroes of law enforcement on Tuesday. It was the LPD’s first Peace Officers Memorial Day ceremony in more than 20 years.
Senator Chris McDaniel was the guest speaker and about 60 attendants were at the event, including Jones County Sheriff Alex Hodge and Jasper County Sheriff Chris Sargent.
The ceremony included the laying of a wreath, a 21-gun salute and the playing of Taps.
LPD Chief Tyrone Stewart said the department wanted to honor, remember and pray for the fallen officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice and are sometimes forgotten by everyone but their families.
“We wanted to recognize Jones County deputies Randy Chancellor, who was killed in the line of duty when his vehicle was struck head-on by a drunk driver, and also we pay tribute to Investigator Kim Stewart with the Laurel Police Department and Lt. Tony Stiles with the Jones County Sheriff’s Department,” Stewart said. “Both of these officers were critically injured by gunfire in the line of duty, and we’re so happy that it was the good Lord’s purpose to have them two still with us here today.”
Stewart said he learned on Monday that Mississippi is tied with Arkansas and California in leading the nation with line-of-duty deaths. Many people expect the number of line-o- duty deaths to be higher in bigger cities, Stewart said, but the reality is that it’s happening in smaller cities like Laurel.
Stewart said the memorial service is an event the LPD will consider doing next year. Peace Officers’ Memorial Day is May 15. The Jones County Sheriff’s office will have a ceremony on Friday at 10 a.m. at the courthouse in Laurel.
— By Jennifer Lowe/reporter@leader-call.net
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