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Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Friday, May 16, 2008

Local officers pay homage

Thursday was National Peace Officers Memorial Day, coinciding with this week’s designation as National Police Week. The program included a posting of colors, Pledge of Allegiance, a prayer by police chaplain the Rev. Mark Clements, recognition of local fallen officers and an address by guest speaker La Crosse Mayor Mark Johnsrud. The La Crosse Police Department has lost three officers: one in 1900 to gunfire, one in 1916 in a motorcycle crash and one in 1937 to gunfire.

The La Crosse Sheriff’s Department has lost two officers: a deputy by accidental gunfire in 1927 and the sheriff in a car crash in 1952.

Officer Jim Page with the Onalaska Police Department holds his 7-month-old son, Timothy, as other officers salute during Thursday’s annual police memorial day ceremony at Onalaska Cemetery. Officers from six area departments including Onalaska, La Crosse, Town of Campbell, West Salem, Bangor, and the La Crosse County Sheriff’s department participated. PETER THOMSON photo