Groundbreaking held for Michigan law enforcement memorial

Photo credit @LtGovCalley/Twitter

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Plans call for the Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Monument to be completed by next fall following a 14-year fundraising effort in support of its construction.

A groundbreaking ceremony took place Thursday in Lansing. The monument's permanent home in Veterans Memorial Park will be adjacent to the Hall of Justice in the Capitol complex. The monument, coined the "Sentinel," will include 10 metal panels engraved with the names of fallen officers.

Gov. Rick Snyder, Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, public safety officials and surviving family members of officers who died in the line of duty were on hand for the ceremony. Snyder says in a statement the "constant reminder of sacrifice is a wonderful, lasting tribute to the heroes we lost and the families who lost their loved ones."

Gov. @onetoughnerd, @LtGovCalley, the #Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Monument Fund Commission & @MI_DTMB broke ground on the Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Monument this morning in Lansing. The Monument will serve as a reminder to our fallen heroes. pic.twitter.com/Vjl2dILWoy

— Michigan.gov (@migov) October 18, 2018