Law enforcement officials come together to honor fallen heroes on Peace Officer’s Memorial Day
Today marks Peace Officer’s Memorial Day, a solemn occasion dedicated to honoring the law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving and protecting their communities.
Across the nation and here in Lee County, flags fly at half-staff as residents and officials pause to remember the brave men and women who died in the line of duty. In Lee County today, at the Opelika Public Library, heartfelt tributes were paid to six fallen heroes from the Opelika Police Department, Auburn Public Safety, and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
“These officers gave their lives in service to others, and their courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten,” said Sheriff Jay Jones, joined in statement by Police Chief Shane Healey of Auburn and Police Chief Cedric Anderson of Opelika. The officers remembered today are:
Officer William Ray Buechner Jr., Auburn Police Department (End of Watch: May 19, 2019)
Deputy James W. Anderson, Lee County Sheriff’s Office (EOW: September 24, 2009)
Sgt. Roger Lamar Motley Jr., Opelika Police Department (EOW: October 4, 1993)
Lt. Moitt Brenton Truitt Jr., Opelika Police Department (EOW: June 3, 1970)
Sheriff William S. “Buck” Jones, Lee County Sheriff’s Office (EOW: June 29, 1932)
Chief Henry Dilmus Hart, Opelika Police Department (EOW: February 1, 1884)
Today, as wreaths were presented and names read aloud, their legacy lives on in the hearts of family members and former colleagues.
During the ceremony, Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones honored Sergeant Major Adkins with giving his family a sheriff’s office badge and the retirement of call number 431966.
The memory of these law enforcement officers and the sacrifice that they made will never be forgotten.
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