Upper Marlboro, MD… In conjunction with Police Week 2013, the Prince George’s County Office of the Sheriff officially dedicated its “Fallen Heroes Memorial” memorializing the lives and service of Deputy First Class Elizabeth Magruder and Sergeant James Arnaud who were killed in the line of duty on August 29, 2002.. The dedication – on the grounds of the Sheriff’s Headquarters - comes during the week of the 15th of May, which was proclaimed Police Week by President John F. Kennedy in 1962.
Sheriff Melvin C. High, the Deputy Sheriff’s Association President Stanford Moore, family members of Deputies Magruder and Arnaud and members of the Sheriff’s Office were joined by, Prince George’s County & 7th Judicial Circuit Administrative Judge Sheila Tillerson Adams, Mr. Barry Stanton, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Public Safety, along with Corporal Vince Canales, President of Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 89 and Mr. John Bartlett, President of the Maryland FOP.
In his remarks, Sheriff High said the moment of remembrance was important not only for those who were lost, but as well for the men and women who have served, who currently serve and who will serve. Of the ultimate sacrifice of PFC Magruder and Sergeant Arnaud, High said, “Their sacrifice reminds us that not all people believe in the sanctity of human life and thus we are called to protect our society, yet in doing so, on too many occasions, our members must pay a heavy price for safety and freedom.”
Judge Adams called Sheriff’s Deputies the guardian angel of the courts. In remembrance of Deputies Magruder and Arnaud, she said “We forget that deputies go into people’s intimate spaces to serve commitments of the courts and we don’t realize how important and volatile that can be.”
Mr. Barry Stanton, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Public Safety, representing Public Safety and the Office of County Executive Rushern Baker offered remarks and read the Dedication Proclamation from the County Executive during the dedication. In his remarks, Stanton spoke to the difficulty of forging ahead in the aftermath of an officer lost in the line of duty, saying,“We can’t understand how hard it is on those who serve, on those who lead or on those who love.”
Deputy Sheriff’s Association President Corporal Stanford Moore called the dedication a very special day, and spoke about a total brotherhood of law enforcement officers, whether deputies, county police officers, fire-fighters, or municipal officers. ”Work and family, we separate the two. That’s what we signed up to do; it’s not for everybody,” he said.
Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) 89, Corporal Vince Canales said he remembered the sad day when Deputy Magruder and Arnaud were killed because he was the officer in charge of the investigation. “I walked in today with a sad memory that can now be replaced by a happy memory because of this memorial.”
Maryland State FOP President Rodney Bartlett spoke on behalf of the 23,000 law enforcement officers serving in the State of Maryland.
Councilmember Mel Franklin read the County Council Dedication Proclamation, followed by Mr. Stanton, after which Chief Asst. Sheriff Colonel Darrin Palmer asked everyone to draw near to encircle the families and President Moore as the memorial was unveiled.
The ceremony closed with a benediction by DSA Chaplain Eric Douglas as Retired Lt. Colonel Robert L. Kiker played “Taps”.
For more information contact the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Press Information Office at 301-780-2773.
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