Chesterfield Police Commemorating National Peace Officer Day with Heavy Heart

The Chesterfield Police will be marking National Peace Officers Memorial Day with heavy hearts after the department lost two officers to untimely deaths earlier this year.

Detective Chris Simpson died in February following a medical emergency that occurred when he became unresponsive at the department’s fitness center. The 56-year-old Simpon served in law enforcement for 25 years.

Another Chesterfield officer, Joseph Smith, 50, died of a heart attack in his home in March. Like Simpson, Smith was a law enforcement veteran with 31 years of service at several area departments.

Capt. Steven Lewis said the department has no formal plans to recognize today’s holiday, but said the two officers will each be recognized with a plaque on the Memorial Wall at Chesterfield City Hall.  

According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund website, May 15 was proclaimed National Peace Officers Memorial Day by President John F. Kennedy. It takes place during National Police Week, which was reported established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962. It's a time meant to recognize police who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Are you doing anything special Wednesday to commemorate the national day of recognition? Is there a law enforcement officer you think deserves to be recognized for his or her service? If so, please post it in the comments below.