Stanislaus County law enforcement and area officials gathered at Lakewood Memorial Wednesday for a somber and reflective tribute to the area’s 14 peace officers who were killed in the line of duty.

The Stanislaus County Peace Officer Association’s memorial tribute to the 14 fallen officers included a flyover, a motorcade of service vehicles, and a keynote address from California Highway Patrol Commissioner Joseph Farrow, who recalled the loss of the officers, not just to the community they served, but to their friends and family.

“These heroes weren’t just officers,” Farrow said. “They were friends, colleagues, and family.”

From 1935 to 2012, there have been 14 law enforcement members killed in the line of duty in Stanislaus County. There have been no law enforcement deaths in the county for the last two years. California saw 13 peace officers die in the line of duty last year.

“The sacrifices of these brave men and women are a constant reminder that we must never swerve from our sworn duties,” Farrow said.

National Police Week is May 10 to May 15. It began in 1962 when President John Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15 falls, as National Police Week. National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others. The week includes several ceremonial tributes in Washington D.C. that this year the Turlock Police Department Honor Guard will be joining.