Elkhart Police Department annual Peace Officers memorial service

ELKHART,Ind. -- The Elkhart Police Department held its annual Peace Officers Memorial Service near the city’s police station at Central Park. The event honored officers who have died in the line of duty since the department’s founding.

Mayor Rob Roberson attended the ceremony, along with police officers, firefighters, and community leaders. During the memorial, names of fallen officers were read aloud to recognize their sacrifice and service.

Jim Bontrager, chaplain for the Elkhart Police Department, spoke at the event and acknowledged the significance of the day.

“Today each year, on May 15, we have a National Fallen Officer Memorial service in the United States, and today was a local expression to honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the Elkhart Police Department,” Bontrager said. “So we are here just to pay tribute to them.”