National Police Week: The CA Officers Who Died In Line Of Duty

California law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty were honored Wednesday as part of the annual National Peace Officers Memorial Service. Tens of thousands of law enforcement officers converged on the nation’s capital for the event, during which President Trump remembered the "brave heroes" who died last year while serving their communities.

"We come together to pay tribute to the American peace officers who made supreme sacrifice, all in the line of duty, in many cases for people they never met, for people they didn't know," Trump said. "We're here to remember their noble lives, to thank God for their profound courage and to express our love, respect, everlasting gratitude for the heroes of law enforcement."

The names of local, state and federal law enforcement officers nationwide who died on duty were read in honor of Peace Officers Memorial Day. Here are the officers who recognized from California:

• Steven Belanger, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
  • End of watch: Feb. 6, 2018
• Greggory Casillas, Pomona Police Department
  • End of watch: March 9, 2018
• Kirk A. Griess, California Highway Patrol
  • End of watch: Aug. 10, 2018
• Ron L. Helus, Ventura County Sheriff's Office
  • End of watch: Nov. 8, 2018
• Tony Hinostroza, III, Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department
  • End of watch: Nov. 25, 2018
• Toshio Hirai, Gardena Police Department
  • End of watch: Nov. 15, 2018
• Oscar A. Reyes, Costa Mesa Police Department
  • End of watch: Sept. 12, 2018
• Gerardo A. Silva*, Redwood City Police Department (*Silva's death occurred in 2017, but was later determined to be as a line-of-duty death)
  • End of watch: Jan. 20, 2017
• Ronil Singh, Newman Police Department
  • End of watch: Dec. 26, 2018
• Mark V. Stasyuk, Sacramento County Sheriff's Department
  • End of watch: Sept. 17, 2018
• Ryan D. Zirkle, Marin County Sheriff's Office
  • End of watch: March 15, 2018

President John F. Kennedy in 1962 designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week as Police Week. The Memorial Service began 20 years later with about 120 survivors and supporters of law enforcement gathering in Senate Park, according to the event’s website. Since then, it has grown to attract up to 40,000 attendees every year. The event, best known as National Police Week, features a series of events, including seminars and a candlelight vigil.

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Patch staffers Dan Hampton and Deb Belt contributed to this report.