Governor Kaine Honors Seven Fallen Law Enforcement Officers at Annual Memorial Service

RICHMOND – Governor Timothy M. Kaine today joined Virginia law enforcement officials in paying tribute to seven of Virginia’s law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty since last May.

The Governor and Virginia Public Safety Secretary John Marshall recognized the fallen officers and their families at the annual Virginia Police Officers’ Memorial Service, held today at the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond. The ceremony was held in association with National Police Week, May 14-20, 2006, which honors law enforcement officers nationwide who have given their lives to preserve law and order.

“With pride and gratitude, we recognize these seven law enforcement officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice – their lives – to their communities, their families, their state, and their agencies,” Governor Kaine said.

“Virginia has suffered a tremendous loss of life among its law enforcement community within the past few years, including the deaths of Chesterfield County Officer Gary J. Buro and Fairfax County Detective Vicky O. Armel in the past week alone,” Governor Kaine said.

Officer Bruno and Detective Armel will be honored during next year’s Virginia Police Officers’ Memorial Service.

The following law enforcement officers were remembered during the service:

• Deputy Sheriff John W. Sanford, Northumberland County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Sheriff Sanford was killed in an automobile accident on June 19, 2005, while responding to a disturbance call.
• Lt. James E. “Bo” Weaver, Dinwiddie County Sheriff’s Office. Lieutenant Weaver was shot and killed with his own service weapon during a struggle with a juvenile prisoner in Petersburg on June 27, 2005.
• Officer Michael Kevin Saffran, Chesapeake Police Department. Officer Saffran was shot and killed after responding to a bank robbery call at a local bank on Oct. 8, 2005.
• Officer Stanley Cornell Reaves, Norfolk Police Department. Officer Reaves was shot and killed on Oct. 28, 2005, while investigating a suspicious person report.
• Officer Courtney Lamont Dickerson, Danville Police Department. Officer Dickerson died from injuries sustained in an automobile accident that occurred while responding to an alarm call on Nov. 10, 2005.
• Officer Richard Lee Spaulding, Portsmouth Police Department. Officer Spaulding suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after being involved in a vehicle and foot pursuit on Nov. 23, 2005.
• Trooper Kevin C. Manion, Virgina State Police. Trooper Manion was shot and killed on Feb. 18, 2006, while assisting another trooper investigating a single-vehicle traffic crash in Clarke County.
  

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