Honoring Fallen Peace Officers
Sonora, CA — Law enforcement agencies from around Tuolumne County gathered at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds yesterday to honor officials who have fallen in the line of duty.
It is one of many similar type somber events taking place around the state and nation this week in honor of National Peace Officer Memorial Day.
Sheriff Jim Mele says, “People always talk about ‘it will never happen or cannot happen in Tuolumne County.’ Well, we read the names of six individuals that have died here in Tuolumne County. The last one was Deputy David P. Grant on May 31, 2004. We also remembered all of the officers and deputies that were killed in the line of duty in California in 2016, which was a total of 12. We read their names, and we paid respect for their sacrifice.”
The names of the fallen were read by Sheriff Mele, acting Sonora Police Chief Turu VanderWiel and CHP Lt. Commander Shane Ferreira. You can click on the slideshow icon to see a list of the 12 officials who tragically passed away last year.
