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Four-year-old Miah Hierwarter and her younger sister, Paige, 2, pray during the memorial service. Their father, Deputy Jason Hierwarter, and his wife attended the service.
ROBERT A. MARTIN/THE FREE LANCE-STAR
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Former Stafford Deputy Jason Edward Mooney's fiancee, Catherine Harris (left), receives a glance from Mooney's mother, Mary (right), as she sits with his father, Ed, during the memorial service.
ROBERT A. MARTIN/THE FREE LANCE-STAR
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Kaine leads tribute to fallen officers
Stafford deputy one of three honored by governor for giving their lives on duty
By Chelyen Davis
Date published: 5/7/2008
RICHMOND-- In a solemn ceremony on the Capitol's portico, Gov. Tim Kaine and law enforcement officers last night formally honored three officers who died in the line of duty, including a Stafford deputy.
Deputy Sheriff Jason Edward Mooney was 24 when he died in a car crash responding to a call last October.
Mooney, who had been with the Stafford Sheriff's department for 18 months, was a 2002 graduate of Colonial Forge High School, a member of the Stafford Volunteer Fire Department Company 2, and a former U.S. Marine who served a tour in Iraq.
He was the first Stafford deputy to die in the line of duty since 1980.
The other two officers honored were Deputy Sheriff Jason Lee Saunders of Campbell County, who also died in a vehicle crash while assisting other deputies in pursuing a drunk driver, and Detective Jarrod B. Shivers of the Chesapeake Police Department, who was fatally wounded entering a residence to serve a narcotics search warrant.
Families of the three men--including Mooney's parents and sister, fiancee, and her parents--were escorted in by fellow officers, to the sound of bagpipes.
Kaine said while the annual memorial service for fallen officers is a sad occasion, it's also one he's most honored to be part of.
"We want to make sure we fully acknowledge in what little way we can the sacrifice of your loved ones," he said.
Kaine spoke of the sacrifices of being a law enforcement officer, not least of which, he said, is having to deal daily with the worst in people and yet still believe in the best in people.
"They decided to serve others because they believed there was good in the world," Kaine said of the officers. "We're here to honor truly exemplary individuals They remind us of what good there is in others."
Kaine and a representative from each of the men's departments presented family members with flowers and a glass statuette of Virginia.
Stafford Sheriff Charles Jett spoke of Mooney, saying that he not only led a busy life of public service but also made time for family and for love.
"He lived more in 24 years than most live in a lifetime," Jett said. "We will never forget him."
Secretary of Public Safety John Marshall said the three men "live on in the work of each and every deputy and officer.
"They live on through those who possess that special kind of courage to put their lives on the line each and every day," he said.
Chelyen Davis: 804/782-9362
Email: cdavis@freelancestar.com
Read more stories about Stafford
Date published: 5/7/2008
Most recent reader comments:
security personnel
(posted by
billmoney
, May 7, 2008 11:18 am)
Please don't forget to honor your local security officers as well as our noble law enforcement officers.You can check out an online memorial at the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice website Private Security Section.Remember, a number of private security officers lost their lives during 9/11 and continue to serve their communties today.Also, write to local companies you deal with and urge them to take good care of their officers.This will help a great deal.
May 9th is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
(posted by
Einstein
, May 7, 2008 10:48 am)
In 2007, 181 federal, state and local law enforcement officers across the U.S. were killed in the line of duty, making it one of the deadliest years in recent memory. On May 13th a ceremony will be held at the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington DC to honor these fallen officers. It is open to the public and is a stirring ceremony worth attending.
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