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Wreath laid for fallen Jack County Sheriff

Tue, 05/15/2018 - 6:16 pm

Tuesday afternoon, a group gathered at the King family cemetery to honor Sheriff William Meredith King who was killed in the line of duty July 17, 1885. 

Several Jack County officers and some of King’s descendants, Jim Whitsitt and Virginia Shanafelt with her husband Sam, visited his grave today where a wreath was placed and Taps was played. 

To kick-off National Police Week, Mayor Alton Morris signed a proclamation declaring May 13-19 as Police Week in the City of Jacksboro at Monday night’s city council meeting. 

The proclamation read as follows: 

To recognize National Police Week 2018 and to honor the service and sacrifice of those law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty while protecting our communities and safeguarding our democracy.

WHEREAS, there are more than 900,000 law enforcement officers serving in communities across the United States including the dedicated members of the Jacksboro Police Department and Jack County

Sheriff’s Department;

WHEREAS, there have been 58,627 assaults against law enforcement officers in 2016, resulting in approximately 16,677 injuries;

WHEREAS, since the first recorded death in 1791, more than 2,.000 law enforcement officers in the United States have made the ultimate sacrifice and been killed in the line of duty, including four members of the Jack County Sheriff’s Department;

WHEREAS, the names of these dedicated public servants are engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.;

WHEREAS, 360 new names of fallen heroes are being added to the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial this spring including 129 officers killed in 2017 and 231 officers killed in previous years;

WHEREAS, the service and sacrifice of all officers killed in the line of duty will be honored during the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund’s 30th Annual Candlelight Vigil, on the evening of May 13, 2018;

WHEREAS, the Candlelight Vigil is part of National Police Week. which takes place this year on May 13-19;

WHEREAS, May 15th is designated Peace Officer Memorial Day, in honor of all fallen officers and their families and U.S. Flag should be flown at half-staff;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The City of Jacksboro formally designates the week of May 13-19, 2018. as POLICE WEEK in Jacksboro, Texas, and publicly salutes the service of law enforcement officers in our community and in communities across the nation.

In witness thereof, I have here unto set my hand and caused the Official Seal of the City of Jacksboro.

Texas to be affixed this 14th day of May 2018.

To read more about King and other fallen Jack County officers, see the May 18 edition of the Herald-Gazette.