On May 15, the Key West and Lower Keys community paid tribute to the law enforcement professionals who have fallen in the line of duty at the annual Law Enforcement Memorial Day service at Bayview Park.
Hosted by the Key West Police Department and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the ceremony included a traditional laying of a wreath and a 21-gun salute.
Mayor Dee Dee Henriquez and the city commission proclaimed May 10-17 as Key West Police Week, and May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day.
The names of Keys officers who have died in the line of duty were read as a special remembrance during the ceremony. Those lost in the line of duty included:
- MCSO Deputy Frank Adams, shot in 1901 while attempting to arrest a disorderly man.
- KWPD Officer Clarence Till, killed in 1904 with his own gun while handling a disturbance call.
- MCSO Deputy Guy Bradley, a Game Warden shot in 1905 by a poacher.
- KWPD Officer Norman Drew, killed in 1975 in a motorcycle accident.
- MCSO Deputy David Cormier, killed in 1989 in an automobile accident.
- MCSO Deputy Michael Alexander, killed in 1998 in an automobile accident.
- KWPD Detective John Piskator, died in 2006 as a result of a heart attack.
- MCSO Deputy Robin Tanner, killed in 2007 in an automobile accident.
- MCSO Deputy Nick Pham, killed in 2008 in an automobile accident.
- MCSO Deputy Melissa Powers, killed in 2010 in an automobile accident.
