Twelve Fort Laurderdale police officers who died on active duty will be remembered and honored in a Fort Lauderdale ceremony Wednesday. Some died decades ago, as far back as the 1940s.
The annual memorial will be held by the Fort Lauderdale Fraternal Order of Police, the union for the department.
Michael Tucker is a sergeant with the police department, and the president of the union. He said the ceremony is a way to remind people of the importance of the profession.
"You really can make a real difference in people's lives,” Tucker said. “I think this is an opportunity every year to remember that we have people that are willing to go out every single day and lay down their lives if they have to for their fellow citizens and everyone that they serve and protect."
The memorial ceremony is open to the public and will begin at noon in Esplanade Park in Fort Lauderdale.
A list of Fort Lauderdale Police Officers who will be honored at the memorial:
- R. DWIGHT JOHNSTON, died in the line of duty as a result of a motorcycle accident, April 5, 1947.
- DONALD E. KIRBY JR., died as a result of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident, October 9, 1968.
- D. WALTER ILYANKOFF, was murdered by four culprits during an armed robbery of a local restaurant, July 21, 1974.
- GREGORY J. CONNERS, died in the line of duty as a result of a motorcycle accident, November 12, 1977.
- JOHN C. ALEXANDER, killed when a police airplane crashed in the line of duty, August 3, 1981.
- KENNETH PETERSEN, killed when a police airplane crashed in the line of duty, August 3, 1981.
- CHARLES E. BRUCE, died as a result of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident, August 24, 1983.
- FRANK A. MASTRANGELO, killed when a police airplane crashed in the line of duty, May 25, 1989.
- NORMAN EDDY, killed when a police airplane crashed in the line of duty, May 25, 1989.
- DAVID L. BROWER, died as a result of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident, December 29, 1994.
- BRYANT H. PENEY, was murdered while investigating a person acting in a suspicious manner, January 6, 1996.
- JOSE A. DIAZ, died as a result of injuries sustained in a fall while backing up another officer, October 8, 2005.
