33rd Annual Polk County Officers' Memorial Service To Remember Lives Lost In Line Of Duty

LAKELAND, FL — Thirty-five law enforcement and corrections officers who lost their lives in the line of duty while serving local residents will be remembered Thursday at Polk County Law Enforcement Memorial in the Lakeland Veterans Memorial Park.

Names of two Lakeland police officers, Kenneth Foley and Paul Dunn, will be added to the memorial wall during the 33rd Annual Polk County Peace Officers' Memorial Service, a news release said. Foley died of a heart attack while on duty in 2019, according to the Ledger. Dunn died when his police motorcycle crashed on Lake Miriam Drive as he headed to officer training in 2020, according to WFTS.

Highlights of the service includes: Joint Agency Officer Processional March; presentation of colors by a joint agency color guard; Roll Call of Heroes; helicopter fly over; Retreat of the Fallen Rider by the Polk County Sheriff's Office Mounted Unit; bagpipe players; Three-Gun Volley; and Taps.

Following the memorial service, the 33rd Annual Memorial Service Luncheon, hosted by the FOP Polk County Lodge #46 and the Polk County Law Enforcement Memorial Fund Inc., will take place at the FOP Polk County Lodge #46, 125 West Brannen Rd, Lakeland (east from South Florida Avenue at Sonny’s). The public is invited to attend the memorial service and luncheon.

Family members of fallen officers, representatives from various Polk County law enforcement and corrections agencies, and public service organizations will be in attendance. Service is scheduled at 10 a.m. at the Polk County Law Enforcement Memorial in the Lakeland Veterans Memorial Park located between Lake Beulah Drive and the west side of the RP Funding Center. The Memorial Service is usually scheduled in May of each year but was postponed to this date due to CCOVID-19 concerns.

For more information, call David Waller, Chairman PCLEMF, Inc., at 863-529-3709.