National Peace Officers Memorial Day

In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15 falls as National Police Week. Established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962, National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others.

Every year, we recognize Firestone Officer Richard E. Hart, who, at the age of 34, died on October 18, 1982, from injuries received two days earlier while attempting to contact a driver leaving the scene of an accident. 

Earlier this year, we were notified by Keith Dameron, a Historian for the Colorado Law Enforcement Memorial, of another line-of-duty death that occurred in 1919. 

Acting Town Marshal Eustache Re, 25, was shot and killed before 6 p.m. on Saturday, January 18, 1919, after he had responded to a disturbance at a dance hall and was attempting to get a drunken man to leave. The man, Jose Prince, drew a revolver and shot Re once in the abdomen. The marshal fell to the floor, and Prince escaped. A doctor was called from Frederick, but he died about an hour later.

On Friday, May 3, Chief Angelo and Deputy Chief Borders attended the Annual Colorado Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony at Camp George West (CSP Training Academy) in Golden, where Marshal Re’s name was added to the memorial.

Today and every day, we remember both men’s courage, humility, and sacrifice.

Read both of their stories, along with links to local law enforcement memorial locations, here: https://www.firestoneco.gov/581/Officer-Memorials.