SHERIFFS REMEMBER FALLEN AT CANDLELIGHT MEMORIAL SERVICE

Upper Marlboro, MD… Prince George’s County Sheriff Melvin C. High, the Sheriff’s Office Command Staff and Sheriff’s Deputies began National Police Week on Wednesday, May 2, 2012 by joining other public safety partners at the annual Candlelight Memorial Service to pay tribute to all law enforcement officers who gave their lives in Prince George’s County.  The Service, sponsored by the Prince George’s County Police Command Officers’ Association was held in the County Council Hearing Room.  Ms. Jamey Arnaud, daughter of fallen Prince George’s County Deputy Sheriff Sergeant James Arnaud was the guest speaker.

Sergeant Yakeisha Hines read a poem dedicated to fallen Deputy Sheriff First Class (DFC) Elizabeth Magruder with whom she became close friends while they were police academy classmates.  Sergeant Arnaud and Deputy First Class Magruder were killed while attempting to serve an emergency psychiatric order on August 29, 2002.  Each was survived by spouses and children, in addition to friends and colleagues within the Office of the Sheriff.

Sheriff’s Office Command Staff escorted Ms. Arnaud and Sgt. Hines as they lit candles during the service in honor of Sergeant Arnaud and DFC Magruder.  Retired Lieutenant Colonel Robert Kiker played “Taps” at the conclusion of the ceremony.

Sheriff High said “This solemn event pays tribute to the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in serving the citizens of Prince George’s County.  It’s a time when family, friends and law enforcement officers share and remember loved ones and colleagues.  As Sheriff, I and this entire agency still grieve for Sgt. Arnaud and DFC Magruder and their families.”

This event is one of the first of many in the region associated with National Police Week which began in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15^th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week.  Today, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world come to Washington, D.C. during the week to participate in a number of planned events which honor fallen officers.

For more information, contact the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office Press Information Office at 301-780-7354.

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