Fallen Officers Remembered During Ceremony At North Shore Memorial

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- It was a day of remembrance on Pittsburgh's North Shore Saturday as fallen police officers were remembered at the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

The ceremony was the first of many around the state and nation this month honoring the men and women in blue who protect the public.

"Don't pass an officer on the street and just look the other way, thank him for his service," said Thomas Marshall, a retired U.S. Marshal.

They spend long hours away from their families and face danger every day.

"We're out there every day no matter what the weather is, what's going on, we're there," said Chief Vincent DiCenzo Jr., of the North Versailles Police Department. "When the officers are out there, they're away from their families."

This year, no police officers in Allegheny County were killed in the line of duty, but two officers from other parts of Western Pennsylvania made the ultimate sacrifice.

Officer Derek Kotecki, from Lower Burrell in Westmoreland County, and East Washington Officer John David Dryer, from Washington County, were shot and killed.

"We're lucky this year, we didn't have to add any names to our wall of local officers from Allegheny County that were killed in the line of duty," said Chief DiCenzo. "But we did have two officers in surrounding counties and this was to honor them along with our heroes that have gone before us and given the ultimate sacrifice."

Linda Crawshaw, the mother of fallen Penn Hills Police Officer Michael Crawshaw, attended the ceremony. Her son was killed in December of 2009.

His name and many others were called one by one as family members placed flowers near the memorial. She believes we should appreciate police officers every day.

"Every day officers go to work to protect us, and as you can see, this memorial is a very poignant reminder that they don't always come home safely to their families," she said.

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