PHILADELPHIA, May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 70 runners went off the
block today in the 9th annual Law Enforcement Memorial Run honoring slain law
enforcement officers. The 160-mile run through three states and the District
of Columbia is a highlight of National Police Week.
The run begins at the Philadelphia Naval Yard through an honor guard from
18 law enforcement agencies. It ends at the National Law Enforcement Memorial
in Washington, D.C. on Friday, May 13.
More than 16,500 law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of
duty in the U.S. In 2004, a total of 14 were slain in Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, Delaware, District of Columbia and Maryland.
The seven officers killed in Pennsylvania were Warrant Officer Joseph E.
LeClaire, Jr., of the Pennsylvania First Judicial District Warrant Unit
(Philadelphia); Bradford County Deputy Sheriffs Michael VanKuren and
Christopher M. Burgert; Sgt. James Miller of the Upper Dublin Township Police
Department (Montgomery County); Douglas A. Shertzer, Lititz Borough Chief of
Police (Lancaster County); Reading Police Department Officer Michael H. Wise,
II (Berks County); and Elk Lick Township Police Department Chief Sheridan O.
Caton (Somerset County).
Run participants -- law enforcement officers and survivors -- wear run
logo-emblazoned t-shirts. In each jurisdiction, officers, survivors and
friends of law enforcement as well as equipment from those areas will join the
run for portions of the route. The run will stop for memorial services to
honor each state's fallen officers and to make presentations, with the first
stop slated for Wilmington, Delaware.
The run is sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Police and the FOP
Pennsylvania State Lodge. This year's run launch is hosted by the Delaware
River Port Authority (DRPA).
This is the ninth year of the run.
The run was launched by James Harrity of Delaware County, a marathon
runner and retired DRPA police sergeant, who now co-directs the run with Eric
DeRenzis, an officer with the Philadelphia Police Department. Harrity is
presenting plaques and Medals of Honor with Inspector Anthony Boyle of the
Philadelphia Police Department to participating families and representatives
of the officers slain in Pennsylvania.
Today's keynote speaker is Lt. Fred Roussey, President of the Baltimore
FOP, whose son, Jamie A. Roussey, died in the line of duty. James Stewart,
President of the Penn-Jersey Lodge #30 of the FOP, is master of ceremonies.
Other speakers included Mark Koch, President, Pennsylvania State Lodge,
FOP: John Matheussen, DRPA CEO; John Dougherty, DRPA Commissioner; Vincent
Borrelli, Chief, DRPA Police; Sylvester Johnson, Philadelphia Police
Department Commissioner; Cynthia Transue, Pennsylvania State Police Deputy
Commissioner; Lynne Abraham, District Attorney for the City of Philadelphia;
Robert Eddis, President of Philadelphia Lodge #5 FOP; and Gary Lightman, Esq.,
of the Pennsylvania State Lodge, FOP.
SOURCE Fraternal Order of Police Pennsylvania State Lodge
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CONTACT:
David La Torre, +1-717-236-3700, or cell,
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