After two years of virtual events, the Fallen Officer Memorial Ceremony was back to being in person on Thursday at the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services campus.

 

A large crowd of law enforcement officers and family members of the fallen heroes were on hand to pay tribute to the memory of all West Virginia officers and FBI agents who have given their lives in the line of duty.

 

During the ceremony, Charleston Patrolman Cassie Johnson was honored. There was an United States flag presentation to her mother and a wreath in Patrolman Johnson’s honor was placed in the memorial garden area followed by a 21 gun salute and the playing of Taps.

 

Johnson was shot and killed after responding to a traffic complaint in downtown Charleston on Dec. 1, 2020. She died two days later at the age of 28.

 

Following Taps, law enforcement officers from around the state and within the FBI took turns reading the honor roll of fallen heroes.

 

The number of West Virginia law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty is at 130, while the number of FBI special agents is at 88.

 

“We take for granted the positive impact that law enforcement creates across our nation’s communities,” said Michael A. Christman, the Assistant Director for the CJIS Division of the FBI. “This ceremony highlights the sacrifice and dedication that the profession requires.

“We must remember that those we have lost are not just a statistic. They were co-workers, they were friends, they were family.”

 

Charleston Police Chief James “Tyke” Hunt was on hand as a special guest speaker in honor of Johnson.

 

“I’m very honored to be here today especially under the premise of honoring our fallen sister Cassie Johnson who made the ultimate sacrifice,” Hunt said. “Not only do we want to honor their memories, we want to honor the lives they led.

 

“My heart still hurts every day, she was my sister in blue. But I find joy in the fact that we can come together to celebrate her life and the life of all the fallen officers.”

 

Hunt added that another positive part of an emotional event like Thursday’s ceremony is that it offers validation for the tight bonds that are formed in the law enforcement family.

 

“When you see officers from all over and this particular event is hosted by the FBI so we have national law enforcement representation here and officers from across the state and then the families of the fallen officers coming together, it’s like they have known each other their entire lives because they have that common ground,” Hunt said.

 

“It’s the brotherhood and sisterhood of law enforcement. It takes a special type of person to enter this profession. It’s a calling from God I truly believe because you have to put others first always and be able to risk your life to do so.

 

“That brotherhood, that sisterhood, is so strong and I think you see that here today with the amount of law enforcement presence."

 

Editor's Note: Top photo, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of FBI Pittsburgh Division Scott Argiro presents Cassie Johnson's mother with the US flag. Middle photo features Charleston Police Chief Tyke Hunt honoring Johnson and in the bottom photo, Hunt escorts Johnson's mother and sister to a wreath in Cassie's honor placed in the memorial garden. Photos by Joe LaRocca.

 

Stay tuned to Connect-Bridgeport for a photo gallery of the event by Joe LaRocca in the upcoming days.