Santa Barbara police remember fallen officers in solemn ceremony

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - A poignant ceremony outside the Santa Barbara Police Department headquarters Friday morning paid tribute to the six Santa Barbara officers who have died in the line of duty over the years. It also recognized the serious risks that officers and law enforcement take every day on the job.

"Every police officer says to the law-abiding community: 'Stand behind us. We will protect you. We will hold the line,'" interim police chief Barney Melekian said during the ceremony. "Today we are here to remember those people that held the line at the ultimate cost."

Dozens of law enforcement personnel from other agencies and some community members gathered to watch the observance, which including a ceremonial flag-raising before a bell-tolling as the fallen's names were read.

The ceremony carried even more significance after San Luis Obispo police officer Luca Benedetti and Stockton police officer Jimmy Inn were shot and killed in separate incidents earlier this week.

"It definitely hits home," said Lt. Aaron Baker with the Santa Barbara Police Department. "San Luis Obispo P.D., they're in our thoughts and our prayers right now. We have a lot of relationships up in San Luis. People that have worked here that now work there. Family members that worked there. It's a close, very similar agency to ours. Great men and women work up there."

In 1962, president John F. Kennedy established Police Week and National Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 15 to remember police officers who have died in the line of duty.

Retired Santa Barbara police officers, Santa Barbara County Sheriff's deputies and Santa Barbara City firefighters were among the other dozens of men and women in uniform that gathered for Friday's memorial.

“Every agency that you see represented here runs the same risk every day,” interim police chief Barney Melekian said.

Melekian wants that courage to be recognized, while acknowledging it's a contentious time for police officers and changes in policing may be necessary. Critics around the country continue to call for more police oversight and widespread reform.

“I think as long as we don’t confuse making changes that may need to be made systemically with the character and the nobility of the profession and the men and women who do it, then I think we’ll have a good discussion,” he said.