The grave site of Richard Adair, who was killed in action in 1979. (Photo by Tripp J Crouse/KTOO)
Juneau Mayor Ken Koelsch speaks Wednesday, May 10, 2017, during a memorial at Evergreen Cemetery. (Photo by Tripp J Crouse/KTOO)
Juneau Police Lt. Kris Sell, left, talks with Sarah Hieb and Rob Heide on Wednesday, May 10, 2017, after the memorial service at Evergreen Cemetery. (Photo by Tripp J Crouse/KTOO)
Juneau Police Lt. Kris Sell stands at attention Wednesday, May 10, 2017, during a memorial service and wreath laying at the grave site of Traffic Officer Richard Adair, who was shot and killed in 1979. (Photo by Tripp J Crouse/KTOO)
Juneau Police Detective Jeff Brink waits for a memorial ceremony to begin Wednesday, May 10, 207, at Evergreen Cemetery. (Photo by Tripp J Crouse/KTOO)
Juneau Mayor Ken Koelsch speaks Wednesday, May 10, 2017, during a memorial at Evergreen Cemetery. (Photo by Tripp J Crouse/KTOO)
Juneau police place a wreath Wednesday, May 10, 2017, during a memorial ceremony at the grave site of Traffic Officer Richard Adair, in Evergreen Cemetery. (Photo by Tripp J Crouse/KTOO)
Juneau Police Chief Bryce Johnson helps police Sgt. Krag Campbell unload a wreath Wednesday, May 10, 2017, at Evergreen Cemetery, for a memorial ceremony at the grave site of Traffic Officer Richard Adair, who was shot and killed in 1979. (Photo by Tripp J Crouse/KTOO)
Juneau police officers in full uniform laid a wreath at Evergreen Cemetery today for a police memorial ceremony that about 20 people attended.
Lt. Kris Sell was one of the many officers observing the memorial.
“This is an annual ceremony that we have to show our respects for the loss of Officer Richard Adair and Officer Jimmy Kennedy who were killed in the line of duty on April 17, 1979, very close to where we stand today,” she said.
Adair and Kennedy were responding to a report of shots fired when they were shot and killed.
Officers placed a large wreath at the grave site of Adair. It is a stark reminder of the dangers that police officers face every day.
“I know from my own family that whenever the phone rings when we’re on duty, there’s always that initial thought that something has happened,” Sell said. “We want to make note that this is real risk and there are real families, families that still live in Juneau and contribute to our community who have been impacted by an event like this.”
Another ceremony will take place tonight at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School at 6 p.m.
Alaska Police Memorial Day was May 5. National Law Enforcement Memorial Week begins next week.
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