Atlanta police pay tribute to 88 fallen officers

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Police Department hosted its 27th Annual Atlanta Police Memorial Service to pay tribute to the lives of 88 fallen police officers.

Members of the Atlanta Police Department gathered Tuesday morning for a procession from the City of Atlanta’s Public Safety Headquarters on Peachtree Street to the City Hall Atrium on Trinity Avenue.

The procession left police headquarters at 9:40 a.m. with an escort. The service ended around 11 a.m. with a roll call of every officer, from 1872 to the last two officers killed in a helicopter crash in 2012.

TRENDING STORIES:

The service began at 10 a.m. with Arthur Blank as the keynote speaker.

“Each name on that list was a mother or father, a wife or husband, child had friends who loved them, who were proud of them and prayed for their safe return,” Arthur Blank said.

Additional speakers commemorating Atlanta Police Department’s fallen heroes include Chief Erika Shields, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, City Council President Felicia Moore, and City Council Public Safety Chairman Dustin Hillis.

The families of officers Richard Halford and Shawn Smilely were there, joined by others, along with the command staff of the Atlanta Police Department.

All were really there for the families.

“Their line of work is so crucial, every minute, every second counts. I just thank the City of Atlanta for having this ceremony every year and I will not miss it each year. I will not,” Vivan Halford said.

One name was added to the list of fallen officers Tuesday, 87 years later. John William Barfield was killed in the line of duty in 1931 on Peachtree Street. His killer turned out to be his partner.

Four generations of his family attended the ceremony, including his 90-year-old grandson.

“Well I think it’s nice to honor somebody that I did not know, and I appreciate what they did for us,” said Buddy Barfield.

Cox Media Group