On May 15, 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed a special day for police officers called National Peace Officers Memorial Day. It was made to honor all police officers—especially those who lost their lives in the line of duty. Every year, Lincoln’s police department holds a ceremony to recognize all of those fallen officers.
This year, Pastor Rich Carlson, Union College’s vice president for spiritual life, had the honor of praying over the officers at the Lincoln police department during the ceremony. Carlson has been a police and fire chaplain since 1983 and is the longest-serving chaplain in Lincoln.
“It’s been 50 years since a Lincoln police officer has been killed in the line of duty, and 31 years since a county sheriff lost his life in the line of duty,” said Carlson. “We are a blessed city.”
By Zakeya Swenson