Senator Pays Tribute to Law Enforcement, Set to Participate in 38th Annual National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service on Wednesday
U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today commemorated Mississippi police officers who were killed in 2018 and are being recognized during National Police Week in Washington.
Hyde-Smith delivered remarks on the Senate floor to honor the four officers being memorialized in national ceremonies. Those officers include: Brookhaven Police Department Corporal Walter Zachery Moak, Brookhaven Police Department Patrolman James Kevin White, Philadelphia Police Department Patrolman II LeAnn Simpson, and Raleigh Police Department Police Officer Emmett Paul Morris,
“I join the families and communities of these four Mississippi officers in remembering their lives and expressing sincere gratitude for their service. Sadly, their sacrifice did not end our losses in Mississippi. Mississippians just yesterday, this past Monday, paused to mourn veteran Biloxi Police Officer Robert McKeithen as he was laid to rest after being gunned down outside the police station on May 5, 2019, last Sunday,” Hyde-Smith said.
“Law enforcement officers risk their lives daily to help keep us safe, and any loss of an officer deeply affects entire communities. I greatly admire members of the law enforcement community who remain steadfast in the dangers of their noble profession. We acknowledge their brave service and fortify our support of their work to protect our families and our communities,” she said.
Hyde-Smith also called attention to Mississippi Highway Trooper Kenneth “Josh” Smith and more than 160 officers from around the country who lost their lives in 2018.
Hyde-Smith, as chairman of the Senate Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee which oversees the U.S. Capitol Police, is scheduled to participate in the 38th Annual National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.
A full schedule of National Police Week activities is available here: http://www.policeweek.org/schedule.html
Hyde-Smith’s remarks are available here and below:
Mr. President, in commemoration of National Police Week, families from across the country are gathering in Washington to pay respect to law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty last year.
Mississippi tragically lost four officers who are being recognized this week at ceremonies in Mississippi and here in the nation’s capital.
On May 17, 2018, Officer Emmett Paul Morris, 61, of Louin, was killed in a car crash. Having served the Raleigh and Reservoir police departments, Officer Morris was described as “a kind man who had the spirit of service.”
Patrolman II LeAnn Simpson of Philadelphia died in an automobile crash while responding to a call on November 24, 2018. She was just 23 years old. Prior to joining the Philadelphia Police Department, Simpson was a sergeant in the United States Army.
The loss of two other officers from Mississippi last year have special significance to me because they had dedicated themselves to protecting my hometown of Brookhaven, Mississippi, and Lincoln County.
Officer James Kevin White, 35, of Sontag, and Corporal Walter Zachery Moak, 31, of Brookhaven, lost their lives in a terrible stand-off on September 29, 2018. Corporal Moak served with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department before serving with the Wesson and Brookhaven police departments. Officer White, in addition to being a police officer, served in Iraq with the Mississippi National Guard.
I join the families and communities of these four Mississippi officers in remembering their lives and expressing sincere gratitude for their service. Sadly, their sacrifice did not end our losses in Mississippi. Mississippians just yesterday, this past Monday, paused to mourn veteran Biloxi Police Officer Robert McKeithen as he was laid to rest after being gunned down outside the police station on May 5, 2019, last Sunday.
These officers, and Trooper Kenneth “Josh” Smith of the Mississippi Highway Patrol, along with the more than 160 officers from around the country who lost their lives deserve national recognition.
Law enforcement officers risk their lives daily to help keep us safe, and any loss of an officer deeply affects entire communities. I greatly admire members of the law enforcement community who remain steadfast in the dangers of their noble profession. We acknowledge their brave service and fortify our support of their work to protect our families and our communities.
Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith Press Releasae
5/15/2019
Sarah Ulmer
