By Amalia Kortright, For the Tribune
BIRMINGHAM — The 2016 Police Week Memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 14 at the Jefferson County Jail from 6 to 8 p.m.
Everyone is invited to gather around the Centurion Statue in front of the County Jail to show their appreciation for those working in law enforcement, as well as pay their respects to officers who have been killed in the line of duty.
The ceremony will begin after opening remarks with the presentation of the colors by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Color Guard and the National Anthem.
The Police Week Memorial will include a lineup of guest speakers:
FOP Lodge 1 Immediate Past President, David Crews
United States Attorney, Northern District of Alabama, Joyce White Vance
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Special Agent in Charge, Birmingham Division,
Roger Stanton
Alabama State FOP Past President, Bill Davis
Bessemer Police Department Chief, Nathaniel Rutledge
Birmingham Police Department Captain, Paul Irwin
Emma Owen, granddaughter of Officer Carlos Owen of the Birmingham PD
RaSheka Smith, daughter of Mary Smith, who had retired from Birmingham PD after 21 years
In addition to speakers, the service will include a roll call of those who have died and a candlelight vigil.
After the service, thee will be a parade to the Birmingham City Hall, where they will change their lights to blue to honor fallen police officers. The lights will remain blue for the remainder of the week.
For more information about the 2016 Police Week or the memorial service, contact April Hutchins at aprilhutchins07@gmail.com, or Lisa Youngblood at youngbloodlisa@me.com.