‘Every single day’: remembering the fallen officers in Wichita and Sedgwick County

Eduardo Castillo
·2 min read

Dozens gathered at the law enforcement memorial in front of Wichita’s City Hall on Wednesday to honor fallen officers in the Sedgwick County area.

Between 1871 and 2022, 33 officers from the Wichita Police Department, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, Derby Police Department and Clearwater Police Department were killed in the line of duty.

“We gather here today not only to remember, but to honor your fallen heroes,” Wichita police Lt. Mike Linnehan said. “They served and sacrificed their lives for others, and they have not been forgotten.”

Friends and families of some of those fallen officers were in attendance at the ceremony, which was held during National Police Week, May 12-18.

During the ceremony, Wichita Mayor Lily Wu issued a proclamation declaring May 15 as Sedgwick County and City of Wichita Law Enforcement Memorial Day.

“In March, I had the opportunity to visit the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., and take time to reflect on our Wichita and Sedgwick County law enforcement officers who served and will be forever remembered.”

The law enforcement memorial in Washington, D.C., contains roughly 24,000 names of fallen law enforcement personnel dating back to 1786.

A Wichita Police officer and a Sedgwick County Sheriff’s officer stand arm in arm as then pay respects to fallen law enforcement officers from Sedgwick County.
A Wichita Police officer and a Sedgwick County Sheriff’s officer stand arm in arm as then pay respects to fallen law enforcement officers from Sedgwick County.

Sedgwick County Commission Chairman Ryan Baty also issued a proclamation that declared May 12-18 as National Police Week in Sedgwick County.

“We call upon our citizens to show their sincere appreciation for the many law enforcement officers of Sedgwick County, past and present, and their legacy of humble, dedicated service.”

Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Clayton Barth remembered his fallen colleagues and faced the families of those officers to let them know their sacrifice was not forgotten.

“As I was sitting over there, I saw empty chairs,” Barth said. “And it’s a reminder that those are the chairs that are not being filled in the squad room with those that we’ve lost.”

“I’m here to tell you that everyone that is here that wears that badge remembers them every single day.”

Shell casing fly from the rifles of an honor guard during a 21-gun salute in front of City Hall on Wednesday. The city and county honored all of the law enforcement officers who’ve died in the line of duty.
Shell casing fly from the rifles of an honor guard during a 21-gun salute in front of City Hall on Wednesday. The city and county honored all of the law enforcement officers who’ve died in the line of duty.