Washington State Law Enforcement Medal of Honor/Peace Officers memorial ceremony

May 2, 2008

*As Written*

Thank you, Chief, (Colleen) Wilson (Port of Seattle), for the kind introduction.

I very much appreciate all of you who worked hard to organize this important day -- the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation�the Medal of Honor Committee�and many others.

We�re here today to honor and recognize the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice to keep
Washingtonians and their families safe.

We�re also here to honor family members of fallen officers here today. My heart is with you � always -- and I hope this day brings comfort to you. I especially want to welcome and honor Judi and Orville Estes, who lost their son Michael Estes, last year.

I welcome you both to this beautiful memorial -- so long in the making -- to remember our fallen officers, including your son.

Because of this memorial, I and thousands of other Washingtonians are able to honor our brave law enforcement officers every day.

I live on this campus, and I can tell you that people by the score visit here to pause, read the names, and reflect. And I sincerely hope that families of fallen officers find some comfort in this.

I often stop by this memorial while walking with Mike, or our dog, Trooper. It always saddens me to read the names of more than 280 officers, and to think of them and the suffering of their families.

And now I will read the name of Walla Walla Deputy Estes, who died of injuries he sustained last year when his patrol car was involved in a collision.

Deputy Estes was driving with his emergency lights on to a residence in Burbank, where a 911 hang-up call had been reported. He collided with a flatbed truck.

Deputy Estes died responding to what could have been a life-saving emergency � a fellow Washingtonian who needed help.

This is the kind of work our police do every single day.

We will honor Deputy Estes today by presenting him with the Law Enforcement Medal of Honor.

At the same time, we will present the Medal of Honor to another law enforcement officer, Puyallup Police Officer Gary Shilley, who escaped with his life after being shot during a traffic stop in 2006.

Officer Shilley was in intensive care for two weeks after he was shot in the face. It took him a year to recover, a process that included facial reconstructive surgery and intense workouts to regain his physical strength.

But he says there was never a question about returning to work, and he was back on the job eight months later.

I�m sure I�m not alone is my amazement and gratitude that Officer Shilley would go through so much suffering and still be committed to his work. Congratulations Officer Shilley.

The Medal of Honor we are giving you is the least we can do.

In a moment, I�ll read and sign a proclamation honoring Washington�s law enforcement community for all they do and for all they have sacrificed.

But first I�d like to share with you the words of a poem written by Eric Derenzis (Dare-EN-sis), the director of the Philadelphia chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors.

It is dedicated to all police officers.

�A hero is one who never hesitates to tackle the most difficult problems.

One who is always by your side.

One who knows right from wrong.

One who acts with pride.

A hero touches every one of us, whether it be by word or deed.

Always tending to those who find themselves in need.

When a hero leaves this earth, yes, it�s sad, but true.

All too many times, the hero is dressed in blue.�

Now I would like to read the proclamation honoring our entire law enforcement community and how much they do to keep Washingtonians safe every single day.

WHEREAS, law enforcement officers are the first line of defense against crime; and

WHEREAS, law enforcement officers throughout the state conduct themselves in a manner that supports, maintains, and defends the constitutions of the state of Washington and the United States; and

WHEREAS, the law enforcement profession has become increasingly more complex, posing greater challenges and requiring officers to serve additional hours above and beyond their regular duties; and

WHEREAS, the events of September 11, 2001, required law enforcement officers to respond to a situation which up until then had been unimaginable � America and the whole world watched as law enforcement professionals reacted without hesitation to that horrifying attack, saving as many lives as possible; and

WHEREAS, numerous law enforcement officers, while performing their duties, have risked their own lives to save the lives of others, distinguishing themselves with exceptionally meritorious conduct; and

WHEREAS, the protection of our citizens and the fight against crime is a 24-hour endeavor, exposing our law enforcement professionals to serious danger and placing their lives in jeopardy; and

WHEREAS, more than 280 Washington law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty since 1889; and

WHEREAS, on May 2, 2008, two law enforcement officers will be awarded the Washington State Law Enforcement Medal of Honor, this state�s highest award for law enforcement officers, on behalf of a grateful state, for exceptional service and recognition of the ultimate sacrifice;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Christine O. Gregoire, Governor of the state of Washington, do hereby proclaim May 11-17, 2008, as

Law Enforcement Recognition Week, in Washington State, and I urge all citizens to join me in this special observance.

Signed this 2nd day of May, 2008

Governor Christine O. Gregoire