American flags flying half-staff this week and next over the Columbia Police Department honor the eight law enforcement officers from Columbia and Marion County who have given their lives in the line of duty.
They’ll be presented to those officers’ families during the annual Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Memorial at 9 a.m. Thursday at the courthouse.
Columbia police officers held a flag-changing ceremony at noon Wednesday and put up the first flag. It stayed up for 24 hours before being changed out with the next one. That process will continue for a total of eight flags.
Police Chief Michael Kelly said it’s a way to honor their sacrifices and help remind the younger generation about what those officers gave. There have been eight slain officers in Marion County since 1960, four each from the police department and sheriff’s office:
• Sheriff J.V. Polk, April 22, 1960
• Officer Leonard Conerly, Dec. 7, 1978
• Deputy Jerry Bryant, Jan. 5, 1984
• Officer Wayne Henebry, May 8, 1989
• Officer Billy D. Patterson, May 8, 1989
• Deputy Edgar Harrell, June 1, 1997
• Officer Danny Sellers, Aug. 8, 1998
• Deputy Vernon Long, Aug. 31, 2002
A prayer breakfast will be held at 8 a.m. Thursday for the families of the fallen officers, and in the event of inclement weather the ceremony would be hosted at the Magnolia Grille.
In the past the ceremony was jointly hosted by the police department and the sheriff’s office, but they have decided to alternate as hosts moving forward.
Pictured Above: Columbia police officers, from left, Kyle Pickett and Davey Bass salute the U.S. flag as Andrew Reid raises it up the pole outside the Police Department Wednesday. Flags flown over the department will be presented Thursday to the families of slain lawmen. | Photo by Charlie Smith
