Wednesday has been proclaimed “Police Memorial Day” in Jacksonville.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office held a ceremony to honor the city’s fallen officers.
At the memorial, Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford said his agency strives to make a positive difference in the lives of those who are troubled. But they are far too often called upon to bury their own.
Rutherford said, “This year is especially poignant as we change our roll call and add the name of Mark Larson.”
Officer Mark Larson died in March 2014 from injuries he receive in a 1993 traffic stop. He was critically injured by a fleeing suspect.
“Although he fought valiantly to recover from those injuries that cost him initially a limb, 21 years later those injuries would cost him his life,” he said.
Since 1840, 61 Jacksonville police officers have died in in the line of duty.
