South Plains College honors fallen peace officers 

 

LEVELLAND – South Plains College hosted the annual Peace Officer Memorial Wednesday (May 1) at the entrance to South Plains College. The event recognizes the sacrifices of law enforcement officers whose lives were lost while serving and protecting citizens across the United States. 

There were 144 law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty in 2018 with 12 officers in Texas. Chief Dan Harris II of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection delivered the keynote address. Harris has been in law enforcement for nearly three decades, including five years as a police officer in San Angelo. He is an alumnus of South Plains College. 

The SPC Law Enforcement Honor Guard performed a 21-gun salute. Also, the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard conducted the Flag Ceremony. Michael Mogan of the Lubbock Airport Police Department played “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes.

Texas Law Enforcement officers who died in 2018 are:

Deputy Sheriff Loren Yalith Vasquez, Waller County Sheriff’s Office, Oct. 31; Deputy Sheriff Raymond Bradley Jimmerson, Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office, Oct. 5; Deputy Sheriff Mark A. Cox, Real County Sheriff’s Office, Sept. 25; Corporal Garrett Willis Hull, Fort Worth Police Department, Sept. 14; Senior Corporal Earl James “Jamie” Givens, III, Dallas Police Department, July 21; Police Officer Jarrod Kyle Friddle, Cumby Police Department, July 9; Chief of Police Lonnie Verdell Burton, Wayland Baptist University Police Department, June 25; Senior Special Agent Paul Scott Ragsdale, United States Department of Justice – Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S., May 24; Deputy Inspector General Richard Wayne Hale, Texas Juvenile Justice Department – Office of the Inspector General, May 9; Police Officer Charles M. Whites, Jr., Round Rock Police Department, April 27; Police Officer Rogelio Santander, Jr., Dallas Police Department, April 25; and Police Officer David Charles Sherrard, Richardson Police Department, Feb. 7.

For more information, contact Kenny Burns, chairperson of the Professional Services and Energy Department and associate professor of Law Enforcement, at (806) 716-2557 or Mark Wittie, instructor of Law Enforcement, at (806) 716-2356.

PEACE OFFICER TRIBUTE – South Plains College hosted the annual Peace Officer Memorial Wednesday (May 1) at the entrance to South Plains College. Michael Mogan of the Lubbock Airport Police Department, right, played “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes. Also shown is Colby Grigsby of Iraan who played “Taps” on the bugle. The event honors law enforcement officers whose lives were lost while serving and protecting citizens across the United States. (SPC Photo/Wes Underwood)