Fallen officers remembered, honored at annual ceremony

VANCOUVER — Members of the law enforcement agencies throughout Clark County and around the state of Washington participated Thursday in the annual Clark County Law Enforcement Memorial in front of the County Public Service Center.

“It’s important that we gather here today to remember our fallen,’’ said Chief John Batiste, of the Washington State Patrol, who served as the guest speaker for this year’s event. “Losing an officer is a shared responsibility. The loss is felt not only by the law enforcement agency who experienced the loss but also by the communities as a whole we serve. We are a family. The community is hurt by the loss of an officer in the line of duty.’’

Clark County Sheriff Chuck Atkins served as the Master of Ceremonies for the event. Cowlitz County Sheriff Mark Nelson performed the National Anthem. The invocation was delivered by Pastor Matt Hannan of Vancouver’s New Heights Church and Board of County Council Chair Marc Boldt presented a proclamation. The Posting of Colors was offered by the Portland Highland Guard & Multi-Agency Color Guard, which conducted the Raising of the Flag.

The Roll Call of Honor was led by Ridgefield Police Chief John Brooks and the Roll Call of Honor, K9 was led by Commander KC Kasberg, of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

Amazing Grace was performed by the Portland Highland Guard and a 21 Gun Salute was performed by the Multi-Agency Honor Guard. Taps was performed by Retired Chief Mike Evans, of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

The benediction was offered by Chaplain Ken Turney, of County-Wide Chaplaincy.

The event was held in accordance with the National Police Week. In 2016, 144 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty. Firearms-related incidents were the leading cause, accounting for 64 deaths. Of those deaths, 21 were shot in ambush-style shootings. Domestic disturbance calls accounted for 14 officer fatalities.

There were also 34 K9 line of duty deaths reported in 2016.

In 2016 in Washington state, Office R. Jake Gutierrez, of the Tacoma Police Department, died in the line of duty on Nov. 30 and K9 Reefer, of the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, dies in the line of duty on March 9.

The ceremony also remembered and honored Clark County law enforcement officers who were fallen in the line of duty. Those included:

• Deputy Sheriff Wilfred E. Rorison, Clark County Sheriff’s Office, 1922.

• Sheriff Lester M. Wood, Clark County Sheriff’s Office 1927.

• Special Agent Ballard W. Turner, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, 1932.

• Special Agent Ernest B. Vlasich, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, 1932.

• Trooper Don R. Campbell, Jr., Washington State Patrol, 1951.

• Deputy Sheriff Martin S. Sowders, Clark County Sheriff’s Office, 1976.

• Trooper James S. Gain, Washington State Patrol, 1987.

• Sergeant Brad Crawford, Clark County Sheriff’s Office, 2004.

Fallen K9 partners were also remembered and honored at the ceremony:

• K9 Brie, Clark County Sheriff’s Office (Handler, Deputy Sheriff Dennis Meats), 1987.

• K9 Lucky, Clark County Sheriff’s Office (Handler, Deputy Sheriff Tom Mitchum), 1990.

• K9 Dakota, Vancouver Police Department (Handler, Officer Roger Evans), 2007.

• K9 Kane, Clark County Sheriff’s Office (Handler, Deputy Sheriff Rick Osborne), 2011.
• K9 Ike, Vancouver Police Department (Handler, Sergeant Jack Anderson), 2015.