On Saturday volunteers and members of the Greater Cleveland Peace Officer Memorial Society visited the grave sites of fallen police officers in our area.
On each site now lies a marker and two flags: the American flag and the police flag.
The marker and flags will remain at each headstone for the duration of National Police Week, May 12 to 20.
John Dean, with the Hudson Police Department, heads up the grave marker project with the GCPOMS. Dean took on the project after his brother was killed in the line of duty in 2009.
"You want to honor the fallen. You want to remember what they did, what their sacrifice was," Dean said."
Jarod Dean, an officer with the Boston Heights Police Department, was hit and killed on Route 8 while cleaning debris from the road from a previous accident.
Dean said his brother's death led him to the GCPOMS. He wanted to find a way to remember those who were killed far too soon.
"I never attended the Greater Cleveland Peace Officers Memorial's Police Week prior to his death," he said. "He [Jarod] knew the importance of police week before I did. It's nice to know this organization honors all these officers and their families during this week."
Dean said this week and the markers symbolize the ultimate sacrifice of police work.
"You're not forgotten. Your families are always remembered," Dean said. "I miss him, but I'll always remember the good times we had. I'll never forget what he did for the community he served."
Several other events are scheduled this week in Cleveland for the remainder of National Police Week. Click here for more information.
