South Plains College’s annual Peace Officer Memorial Service was held Wednesday morning on the lawn of the Levelland campus entrance.
Community members were invited to attend as the event honored law enforcement officers whose lives were lost while serving and protecting citizens across the United States in 2023.
Michael Mogan of the Lubbock Airport Police Department played the bagpipes during the service while the SPC Law Enforcement Honor Guard performed a 21-gun salute and Taps, and the Levelland Police Department Honor Guard raised the flags.
Department Chair Professional and Energy Professor Law Enforcement Kenny Burns welcomed those in attendance and thanked the college’s administration and board of regents for allowing the event to be held annually.
Burns also praised SPC Assistant Professor of Law Enforcement Mark Wittie and the college’s honor guard students as they worked throughout the year in preparation of the event.
Burns welcomed Levelland Police Chief Albert Garcia to lead the invocation followed by Sundown Police Chief Jeff Foster serving as the keynote speaker.
Foster, with over 36 years of law enforcement service including international, federal, state, city and school policing.
“It is a great honor and I’m so proud to be here today,” said Foster. “For South Plains College, Kenny and his group along with all these ladies and gentlemen here putting this together is a great tribute to honor those that have fallen.”
Foster explained that when becoming a police officer, those have always heard it’s a calling. For Foster, he truly believes that is the case.
Referencing Garcia’s invocation as he mentioned a Matthew scripture talking about peacekeepers being the children of God, Foster shared that sentiment.
“In a world today with all the war conflicts and violence in our homes, our nation, communities and schools it’s very difficult for anyone to have peace-hope or peace wanting,” explained Foster. “For these guys and gals to stand up and actually take the job of peacemaker and peacekeeper is very commendable. It’s a sacrifice that they do every day and we a lot of times take it for granted. Today we’re here to honor the ones that took that call that day and gave their very all as they sacrificed their lives for us to be here and to enjoy our freedoms and our safety.”
Foster stated that 51 lives have been lost so far in 2024 for the law enforcement community across our nation. Of those 51 lives, 24 of those lives were just lost in the month of April alone. In 2023, Texas lost 11 members of their law enforcement family. Foster read each name to give honor and respect to those that that lost their lives, followed by a moment of silence.
Following the conclusion of the service, South Plains College President Dr. Robin Satterwhite shared his thoughts regarding the importance of having the annual event.
“This is a great opportunity for us as a college and as a community to come together to recognize and memorialize these officers that have fallen in the in the line of duty,” said Satterwhite. “This is such an important thing for us to do as it is important for us to remember those individuals.”
Satterwhite added that the college is very proud to be part of this annual memorial service while being able to recognize and honor those who have fallen in the line of duty.
What has become a staple event for SPC and the community to show their support of law enforcement, Satterwhite shared that the support for the college’s law enforcement and academy programs are unwavering.
“It is so important to offer our support for these programs and individuals who work hard and are focused on helping educate the next group of law enforcement personnel will protect their community,” said Satterwhite. “We are very proud of them for taking this opportunity and using their leadership to put this together. It really is a testament to our college, our community, our state and all the surrounding communities that are here to show support.”
Garcia highlighted the fantastic job South Plains College does with the annual service. He added that it is also an honor to be a part of the service as the LPD’s honor guard has been part of the event for roughly three years now.
Garcia explained that the department helped the college by doing it once and has continued to be a part of it ever since.
“I know that my guys really appreciate being a part of it and I know that South Plains College appreciates it as well because it really means a lot to us,” said Garcia. “Every year we talk about the number of officers killed in the line of duty or that we lose in the line of duty in the state of Texas or across the Nation and I think that’s probably one of the reasons that it’s it means so much to us.”
Additionally, Garcia does not want the families of the fallen officer to believe that they’re loved ones are not forgotten for making the ultimate sacrifice.
“It’s important that we honor those that have fallen,” said Garcia. “We will always be there to help their families and to hold them up when they need help.”
Garcia spoke about the recent memorial service held in Austin on Sunday.
Calling it a very solemn occasion, Garcia explained that when the names of the fallen are seen on the large concrete panels, it puts into perspective what law enforcement officers can face.
“I mentioned in my prayer today that I truly believe it is a chosen career for us,” said Garcia. “Before we even started this career, God had appointed us to do this job. He gave us the heart and passion to do the job and it’s important that we recognize that as police officers.”
For the police officers that will be coming into the field and those that are still part of the law enforcement community, Garcia hopes they understand and know that this is still a noble profession and it’s still an honorable profession.