Northglenn honors Colorado police officers who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice with a candlelight vigil every May, but this year’s ceremony is especially poignant.
“It’s been a really rough start to the year, that’s for sure,” said Northglenn Officer Scott McNeilly. “We are anticipating a larger turnout this year, more than typical.”
The Northglenn Police Department will honor the three Colorado officers killed while on duty in the first two months the year — Douglas County Deputy Zackari Parrish, who was shot on Dec. 31, Adams County Deputy Heath Gumm, shot on Jan. 24, and El Paso County Deputy Micah Flick, who was shot Feb. 5.
Northglenn’s annual Fallen Officer Memorial Candlelight Vigil is scheduled for 7 p.m. May 17 at E.B. Rains Jr. Memorial Park, 11800 Community Center Dr. Law enforcement from all jurisdictions along with the public are invited to attend.
This year’s event is being co-hosted by the Adams County Sheriff’s office.
The ceremony honors all 313 Colorado police officers who have died on duty and that includes the park’s namesake, Northglenn Police Corporal Edgar B. Rains Jr.
Rains was shot by friendly fire May 30, 1984 while he and other officers confronted an armed suspect during a domestic assault.
“He was the only officer in Northglenn’s history to fall in the line of duty,” McNeilly said.
The park was later re-named in his honor. Northglenn began offering the memorial in 2003.
“We didn’t necessarily start the memorial because of him,” McNeilly said.
“But some of the officers thought it would be nice to recognize fallen officers. Our current chief, who was a sergeant at the time, decided to take the lead and put the event together.”
They send invitations to agencies statewide, inviting them to attend.
This year’s event will feature the state’s Police Honor Guard, banners with all of the fallen officers names and performances by a bagpipe band.
“Each officer honored is introduced by a representative from their department or agency,” he said. “They give a brief history of the officer, what happened and the incident that lead to their death.”
The department will also present wreaths in honor of the fallen officers.