Slain Montgomery Officer to Be Saluted at Fallen Heroes Ceremony

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MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD-A Montgomery County Police Officer killed by an alleged repeat drunk driver will be honored next month in a state ceremony.

On May 6, hundreds of law enforcement officers and firefighters, dignitaries and members of the community, family, and friends will gather at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens for the 31st annual Fallen Heroes Day to honor, among others, Police Officer Noah Leotta of the Montgomery County Police Department.

Leotta died on Dec. 10, 2015, of injuries suffered a week earlier when he was struck by an alleged drunk driver during a traffic stop. Officer Leotta, who began his career as an intern and permanently joined the department in 2013, was taking part in a Holiday Alcohol Task Force. He was on assignment at the time of the accident; the driver is awaiting trial.

His devotion to getting drunk drivers off the road and the need to strengthen DUI laws, led to the creation and ultimate passage of “Noah’s Law” during the 2016 Maryland General Assembly.

Officer Leotta is survived by his parents and sister.

The 1 p.m. ceremony, which honors those whose deaths have been declared "line of duty" during the past year, is the only statewide ceremony in the nation that brings together all segments of the public safety community.

Fallen Heroes Day salutes police and correctional officers, firefighters, and emergency medical and rescue personnel who risk their lives every day to protect the citizens of Maryland.

Since the 2015 Fallen Heroes Day ceremony, four police officers have died in the line of duty. They are:

• Police Officer III Noah Leotta, Montgomery County Police Department, December 10, 2015
• Senior Deputy Patrick Dailey, Harford County Sheriff's Office, February 10, 2016
• Deputy First Class Mark Logsdon, Harford County Sheriff's Office, February 10, 2016
• Detective Jacai Colson, Prince George's County Police Department, March 13, 2016

The 31st Annual Fallen Heroes Day ceremony will begin with a procession of more than 25 honor guard units from across the state, police motorcycle and mounted units, bagpipers and drummers.

Baltimore Sun writer Fred Rasmussen will be the keynote speaker and Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz will give a memorial address.

Rachel Barr, the daughter-in-law of 2014 Fallen Hero Fire Police Captain David Barr, Jr. of the Community Fire Company of Perryville, will speak as a survivor.

Harford County Executive Barry Glassman and Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett will also participate in the ceremony and television news anchor and radio host Mary Beth Marsden will serve as the emcee.

During the ceremony, after each 2016 fallen hero is remembered, his family will be presented with a replica of the Fallen Heroes Memorial and a resolution from the Maryland General Assembly. Additionally, one police officer and one firefighter who died in the line of duty before Fallen Heroes Day was established in 1986, will be remembered and their family will be presented with a Governor's Proclamation.

"For more than 30 years, Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens has honored Maryland's fallen heroes -- public servants who have given their lives in the line of duty," says John O. Mitchell, III, Chairman of Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. "Fallen Heroes Day provides an opportunity for the citizens of Maryland to take time to show appreciation and respect for the men and women who risk their lives each day when they report to work."

Keeping with tradition, Gov. Larry Hogan has issued a proclamation declaring May 6, 2016 as Fallen Heroes Day in Maryland and has ordered flags flown at half-staff at the State House and all state facilities.

>>Photos courtesy of Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens