Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/727617
8 nOctober 2016n www.thunderpress.net THUNDER PRESS by Julie DeHerrera SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, AUG. 21—After a two-year hiatus of police deaths in Utah, two names were added to the Utah Law Enforcement Memorial (ULEM) for a total of 139 fallen offi cers who made that ultimate sacrifi ce. These 139 tragedies culminated in this year's 10th annual Ride for Fallen Offi cers as 7,000 participants rode motorcycles and vehicles on behalf of Utah's law enforcement that have paid the ultimate sacrifi ce. The End of Watch call came on January 17, 2016, for 44-year-old police offi cer Douglas Scott Barney II, Unifi ed Police Department, as he was shot and killed while responding to the scene of a traffi c accident in Holladay. Box Elder County Deputy Sheriff Leon Albert May, 54, succumbed to raging underwater currents in the Bear River in 1953. The families of both offi cers received posthumous Purple Heart awards from the Utah Peace Offi cers Association in May. Timpanogos Harley-Davidson of Lindon was the place to register for the 10:00 a.m. ride that would conclude at the ULEM located at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City. Bikers com- mingled with cops who hailed from jurisdictions as Park City, Murray, Cache County, Logan, Davis County, Utah Highway Patrol, Unifi ed Police Department, Orem and more from around the Beehive State. Former police offi cer Robert Kirby is historian on the ULEM Associate Board and Salt Lake Tribune columnist. He was instrumental in researching each name for his book, End of Watch: Utah's Murdered Police Offi cers 1858–2003. If it hadn't been for his book, there wouldn't be a ULEM, which was dedicated in 2008. Kirby continues to seek out offi cers who have died in the line of duty by perusing newspaper articles. No one should be forgotten. "This [motorcycle] ride has grown in size every year," said Kirby, "It's bigger this year because of all the issues law enforcement is facing around the country for law and order. A lot of people are showing up to sup- port the blue." Kirby noted that offi cers are paying tribute to their own memo- rial. Since 2008, he has been to three memorials where he has seen offi cers who would in turn have their names on the memorial. "It's horrible to think about it that way, but this is a casualty list that never ends and never will. It started as soon as the pioneers came here. There is an element of society that just doesn't take responsibility for death. We always need people to stand between us and them," stressed Kirby. That they are paying homage to their own memorial, Carl Stokes, UHP, remarked that it is "horrifying" that his name might one day be etched on the memorial. And "humbling" is how Brady Shepherd, Logan P.D., described the bikers who rode in support of his colleagues. Shawna Harris, widow of Deputy Brian Harris, made the fi ve-hour drive from Mt. Carmel to Lindon in this, her third tribute ride. Tom Cram, chief of police of Kanab, let her ride on the back of his 2006 H-D Wide Glide. Deputy Harris, 41, was the fi rst line-of-duty death in Kane County in 2010 when he was ambushed, shot and killed while tracking a burglary suspect in the desert near Fredonia, Arizona. After an hour ride north to Salt Lake City, the procession of motor- cycles was led to the Capitol grounds for the ceremony where 139 American fl ags waved in the breeze to greet rid- ers. Each fl ag bore the name and bio of a fallen offi cer. The ceremony began with a Posting of the Colors by the Honor Guard and the national anthem sung by retired Utah Jazz basketball player and inspirational speaker Thurl Bailey. Fourteen Explorers from SLCPD Post 2471 received pins. This group will become future law enforcement. KUTV Channel 2 on-air personality Shauna Lake emceed the program and intro- duced UHP Colonel Michael Rapich, who has been a second-gen- eration police offi cer for 24 years. In those 24 years, 31 of Utah's police offi cers have sacrifi ced every- thing to fulfi ll the promise that as an offi cer when anything bad happens, they will be there. "We come here [today] to honor those that are still here. Those who continue to provide service, who con- tinue to sacrifi ce," said Rapich. Doug Barney's 13-year-old son, Jack, briefl y spoke next and told the crowd that when any offi cer died, his father would be hurting inside but would have a smile on his face to mask the pain. Jack said his father would be honored to be on this wall. "It warms my heart to come here," said Jack. During a memorial in May, Jack laid a bronze plate into the wall of the ULEM. Erika Barney spoke of her husband's legacy at that ceremony. "Doug really loved people. And he loved to serve people whether it was at work, or off duty. Fixing people's cars or helping with yardwork. Whatever he could do. To me he was a hero in the way he lived his life and in the way he died," said Erika. Doug died just one month shy of their 20th wed- ding anniversary. He is also survived by daughters Matilda and Meredith. Offi cer Doug Barney grew up in Anaheim, California. He loved work- ing on cars but craved interaction with people. He had always wanted to become a police offi cer. So Doug worked fulltime while attending classes and graduated with a degree in Sociology with a Criminal Justice cer- tifi cate from the University of Utah. There are many stories about Doug that would make anyone laugh. O ne in particular involved the cassette tape of Kenny Rogers' "Long Arm of the Law," which he would loudly sing if there was a grouchy prisoner in the back of his squad car on the way to jail. The end result was usually the two of them laughing as they entered the jail. Erika said Doug enjoyed being a police offi cer and would fre- quently say, "I can't believe they pay me to do this!" She said that Doug exemplifi ed the scripture John 15:13, "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends." That scripture is a testament to the names on the ULEM so that the community won't forget and appreciate their sacrifi ce, said Erika. 4 10TH ANNUAL RIDE FOR FALLEN OFFICERS Never forgotten Thousands honor those who gave all Riders gather for departure at Timpanogos Harley-Davidson Jack Barney has a quiet moment with his father's nameplate