We remember the fallen.
In honor of law enforcement officers who have died in service to the residents of South Florida, the SFLPBA commissioned the “Fallen Officer Tribute” to serve as a visual reminder of the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers. All of these officers are members of the local community who gave their lives so everyone else could live in peace.
The Fallen Officer Tribute goes on display every September in the lobby of the Stephen P. Clark Government Center (111 NW 1st Street). Along with life-sized photographs and informational boards, the lobby is filled with mannequins representing every fallen officer across South Florida. Each mannequin is wearing a black t-shirt with the words “I Died for You." Each shirt also has the name of one fallen officer name and the date of his or her death.
Fallen officers represent departments across South Florida. The names of their departments were left off symbolically to represent unity. It doesn’t matter what unit an officer is part of, as they all share the same calling—and they all gave the ultimate sacrifice.
These brave men and women were local coaches, volunteers, loving family members, friends and neighbors. Making up every race and gender, they entered law enforcement because they wanted to give back. It takes a special person to walk down a dark alley uncertain of what awaits at the end, or to advance into a gun fight when common sense and self-preservation say otherwise. Officers are always the ones running into danger when everyone else is running from it. They are the heroes serving their community to make sure it’s a better, safer place for everyone else.
“It was their duty to serve. It is ours to remember.”
The display is free and open to the public every year, from September 1st to September 30th.