Salute To Peace Officers Friday

By JOE SEELIG | Highlands Today
Published: May 08, 2008

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SEBRING - On average, every two days somewhere in the United States a law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty.

There will be a Salute to Peace Officers memorial held at 9 a.m., Friday, May 9, in the board room of the Highlands County Government Center.

The Highlands County Sheriff's Office will pay tribute to officers who have fallen in the line of duty during the year 2007.

In honor of the upcoming National Police Week, to be held May 11 through May 17, officers will wear blue ribbons flying them from vehicle antennas to honor the fallen.

Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Nicholas Sottile was shot and killed in the line of duty in January of 2007, during a traffic stop near Lake Placid.

By an act of Congress, May 15th has been declared Peace Officer's Memorial Day.

"There is no other day legally determined to honor this profession by federal law," said Becky Smalls, law enforcement bureau administrative aide in a news release.