With Peace Officer Memorial Day taking place today, it’s a time to look back and reflect on those who gave their lives as peace officers and the importance of them.

Dallas County Sheriff Chad Leonard says Peace Officer Memorial Day is an important day for law enforcement and it’s an important time for Leonard as he says it’s a time for him to remember those friends he has had that have passed away, including a recent member of the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office.

“Last year due to COVID we lost a jailer, Dwight Stearns. Dwight died of COVID but he retired as the police chief after thirty plus years with the Earlham Police Department but he was still working there part time and then he was doing transports for us here are the Sheriff’s Office out of the jail. One heck of man, one heck of a friend and we lost him so that was a huge blow to the Sheriff’s Office last year.”

Peace Officer Memorial Day is celebrated every year on May 15th.