The families of fallen Oregon State Police (OSP) Troopers were joined Saturday evening, October 1, 2016, in remembrance of the men and woman who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty at the formal dedication of the Fallen Trooper Memorial near the State Capitol in Salem. The ceremony culminated six years of planning, fundraising, and construction of Oregon's only memorial that is solely dedicated to honor and remember fallen OSP Troopers.
The Oregon State Police Fallen Trooper Memorial recognizes thirty-three Troopers who died in the line of duty. Their names were engraved on individual plaques and placed on the memorial that was recently erected in front of the Public Service Building across from the State Capitol in Salem. Each of these deaths had a profound impact on families, the Department of State Police, public safety partners, and citizens of Oregon.
"The Oregon State Police Fallen Trooper Memorial stands as a lasting tribute to the 33 troopers who made the ultimate sacrifice seeing in the line of duty," Governor Kate Brown said. "Oregon is made better and our communities are safer thanks to the dedicated and selfless service of our OSP troopers and law enforcement officers throughout the state" said Oregon Governor Kate Brown, one of several participants during the dedication ceremony.
Six years ago, former Oregon State Police Superintendent Tim McLain helped put together the Fallen Trooper Memorial committee to realize a vision of honoring Oregon's fallen Troopers. With the gracious assistance and commitment of several individuals, businesses and organizations, Oregon's Fallen Trooper Memorial was designed, constructed, and built in northwest Portland. Approximately $300,000 was raised through the Fallen Trooper Memorial Foundation, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization formed to help make the memorial a reality.
Governor Brown joined State Senator Betsy Johnson and OSP Superintendent Travis Hampton in welcoming the families of fallen Troopers, government officials, Department members past and present, public safety partners, and citizens.
"Their service and life circumstances are so engrained in the culture of our agency personnel...past, present and future generations of troopers will never forget the sacrifice they made for the citizens of Oregon" said Superintendent Hampton.
Speaking on behalf of the families of Oregon's fallen Troopers at the formal dedication were Bill and Barb Lyons. Their son, Scott Lyons, died in the line of duty in September 2, 1997, in a traffic crash with Sergeant James Rector. "Each name represents a Trooper and their family who was dedicated to the Oregon State Police, who was loyal and steadfast in their service to the State of Oregon.," said Retired OSP Senior Trooper and Family Member Bill Lyons.
The Oregon State Police Fallen Trooper Memorial was designed by Gene Bolante, Studio 3 Architecture in Salem. Portland-area sculptor, Jason Jones (Jones Sculpture Studio) worked about five years to make the memorial out of basalt blocks harvested from a Madras-area quarry. Significant contributions were also provided by White Oak Construction, Oregon State Parks, Oregon Department of Administrative Services, and many others whose help is greatly appreciated.
Others participating during the dedication included the Oregon SenateAires, a Salem-area barbershop chorus, and Portland Police Bureau Highland Guard.
The Fallen Trooper Memorial Foundation will continue to raise funds to help offset memorial maintenance costs and provide ongoing education to OSP troopers aimed at preventing and reducing line of duty deaths. Additional information, photographs, and ways you can help support the Fallen Trooper Memorial are available on the Oregon State Police Fallen Trooper Memorial website at www.ospmemorial.org.
The Oregon State Police Fallen Trooper Memorial recognizes thirty-three Troopers who died in the line of duty. Their names were engraved on individual plaques and placed on the memorial that was recently erected in front of the Public Service Building across from the State Capitol in Salem. Each of these deaths had a profound impact on families, the Department of State Police, public safety partners, and citizens of Oregon.
"The Oregon State Police Fallen Trooper Memorial stands as a lasting tribute to the 33 troopers who made the ultimate sacrifice seeing in the line of duty," Governor Kate Brown said. "Oregon is made better and our communities are safer thanks to the dedicated and selfless service of our OSP troopers and law enforcement officers throughout the state" said Oregon Governor Kate Brown, one of several participants during the dedication ceremony.
Six years ago, former Oregon State Police Superintendent Tim McLain helped put together the Fallen Trooper Memorial committee to realize a vision of honoring Oregon's fallen Troopers. With the gracious assistance and commitment of several individuals, businesses and organizations, Oregon's Fallen Trooper Memorial was designed, constructed, and built in northwest Portland. Approximately $300,000 was raised through the Fallen Trooper Memorial Foundation, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization formed to help make the memorial a reality.
Governor Brown joined State Senator Betsy Johnson and OSP Superintendent Travis Hampton in welcoming the families of fallen Troopers, government officials, Department members past and present, public safety partners, and citizens.
"Their service and life circumstances are so engrained in the culture of our agency personnel...past, present and future generations of troopers will never forget the sacrifice they made for the citizens of Oregon" said Superintendent Hampton.
Speaking on behalf of the families of Oregon's fallen Troopers at the formal dedication were Bill and Barb Lyons. Their son, Scott Lyons, died in the line of duty in September 2, 1997, in a traffic crash with Sergeant James Rector. "Each name represents a Trooper and their family who was dedicated to the Oregon State Police, who was loyal and steadfast in their service to the State of Oregon.," said Retired OSP Senior Trooper and Family Member Bill Lyons.
The Oregon State Police Fallen Trooper Memorial was designed by Gene Bolante, Studio 3 Architecture in Salem. Portland-area sculptor, Jason Jones (Jones Sculpture Studio) worked about five years to make the memorial out of basalt blocks harvested from a Madras-area quarry. Significant contributions were also provided by White Oak Construction, Oregon State Parks, Oregon Department of Administrative Services, and many others whose help is greatly appreciated.
Others participating during the dedication included the Oregon SenateAires, a Salem-area barbershop chorus, and Portland Police Bureau Highland Guard.
The Fallen Trooper Memorial Foundation will continue to raise funds to help offset memorial maintenance costs and provide ongoing education to OSP troopers aimed at preventing and reducing line of duty deaths. Additional information, photographs, and ways you can help support the Fallen Trooper Memorial are available on the Oregon State Police Fallen Trooper Memorial website at www.ospmemorial.org.