News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
72 law enforcement officers nationwide have given their lives in service so far in 2020. That’s a 27 percent increase over last year. Friday is National Peace Officer Memorial Day. Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris said it’s a chance to remember those who laid down their lives.
“We just want to recognize the men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice over the years from across the country,” Farris said.
Farris and local leaders will gather outside the Sheriff’s Department Friday morning at 10am to remember those officers who have lost their lives. The 30-minute service will pay homage to the sacrifice. The event will be broadcast live on News Talk 94.1.
In 2019, 146 law enforcement officers gave their lives in service. Eight of those were Tennesseans. Farris said every officer understands the risk when he or she walks out the door.
“We talk about it quite frequently over here at the sheriff’s office among our men and women and our employees and our staff and administrative people especially, when somebody comes online with us, we talk about being a family,” Farris said. “It is a family. I certainly believe law enforcement to calling is not necessarily. Yes, it’s a job we get paid for. But your heart has to be in the right place to do this, this kind of a service.”
Farris said families must also understand the risk.
“The families, the wives, husbands, the children, they pay a price. We certainly work on our sometimes we work long, long hours,” Farris said.
The last Putnam County deputy to lose his life in the line of service came in 1942. A total of four deputies have lost their lives in the community. Farris said this community has been fortunate.
President John Kennedy began the Memorial Day in 1962.
