Family members clutched photos of the fallen officers yesterday as they arrived in a procession near downtown Houston. In HPD's 168-year history, 109 officers have been killed while on duty. Yesterday's memorial service included a fly-over by HPD helicopters and a 21-gun salute.
"The mission of law enforcement is to protect and to serve. Yet for everyone involved in that mission, there is always the potential that protecting and serving can lead to sacrifice," said Chief Harold Hurtt with the Houston Police Department.
All 109 names of the fallen officers were read aloud and some 70 badges retired, never to be worn again.
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