Utah Law Enforcement Memorial

Please join us tonight at 7:00 PM at the Utah Law Enforcement Memorial. Open to all.

This Thursday, 7:00 PM, West lawn of the Utah State Capitol. Please join us.

7:00 PM, Thursday, May 7th 2026.

2026 Utah Law Enforcement Memorial Service
"All Give Some, Some Give All"

Join us as we gather to honor the courage, sacrifice, and service of Utah’s fallen. This year, we stand united with family, friends, and fellow officers to reflect and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Together, We Honor and Remember:
Sergeant Lee Sorensen | E.O.W. August 17, 2025

Officer Eric Estrada | E.O.W. August 17, 2025

We also pay tribute to the 150 additional law enforcement officers who gave their lives in the line of duty.

Service Details
Location: West Grounds of the Utah State Capitol

Date: Thursday, May 7, 2026

Time: 7:00 PM

Please note the updated start time for this year’s service.

End of Watch:

February 24, 1994

Age: 38
Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office
Homicide: Handgun

Deputy Michael S. Welcker was killed by a prison parolee wanted for questioning in an assault.

Officers went to a Taylorsville apartment where they believed the man was hiding. As they attempted to pick the lock, the man fired through the door with a 9mm pistol. Deputy Welcker was struck outside the panel of his body armor and died a few minutes later. Sgt. Larry Marx was wounded but recovered. As officers returned fire, the suspect retreated to the rear of the apartment and committed su***de.

Deputy Welcker was single and had been a police officer for five years. He is buried in Valley View Memorial Park, Salt Lake County.

The bronze memorial name plaque of Deputy Michael S. Welcker is sponsored by the citizens of Salt Lake County.

https://utahsfallen.org/michaels-welcker/

End of Watch:

February 23, 1986

Age: 32
West Jordan Police Department
Accidental: Shooting

Officer Thomas M. Rees was killed in a training accident.

While on duty, Officer Rees and other officers were practicing weapon retention techniques at the West Jordan Police Department. When the instructor, acting the part of an assailant, grabbed Officer Rees’s .38-caliber revolver, it discharged and struck Officer Rees in the upper right chest. Although airlifted to a hospital, Officer Rees died a few hours later. Officer Rees was married and the father of three children. He is buried in Valley View Memorial Park.

The bronze memorial name plaque of Officer Thomas M. Rees is sponsored by the West Jordan Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #8.

https://utahsfallen.org/officer-tom-m-rees/

End of Watch:

February 21, 1915

Age: 29
United States Marshals Service
Homicide: Shooting

Deputy Joseph C. Akin was a deputized member of a posse raised in Dolores, Colorado, to serve a federal murder warrant on a member of a Piute band living along the Colorado-Utah border.

The fugitive band was located camped on the outskirts of Bluff, Utah. As the posse rode toward the camp, they were fired upon by several members of the band. A prolonged gun battle ensued during which Deputy Akin was shot through the head and instantly killed. An unknown number of Piute Indians were also killed. The band eventually surrendered and several of its members were incarcerated. No one person was tried for the murder of Deputy Akin. He was survived by his wife and young daughter, and is buried in Dolores, Colorado.

The bronze memorial name plaque of Deputy Joseph C. Akin is sponsored by is sponsored by the Utah Attorney General’s Office, Chief of Law Enforcement Services, Ken Wallentine and Janet Wallentine.

https://utahsfallen.org/deputy-joseph-c-akin/

End of Watch:

February 16, 1924

Age: 26
Salt Lake City Police Department
Homicide: Handgun

Officer William N. Huntsman and Officer Brigham H. Honey, Jr., were killed while attempting to arrest an armed robber.

At approximately 11:30 p.m., a suspect entered the State Café, 46 W. Broadway, and ordered the clerk at gunpoint to surrender the money from the register. When the suspect had rejoined his female accomplice on the street, an employee exited the café and fired a shot at them. The noise attracted the attention of the two officers, who pursued the pair south on Main Street. At 337 S. Main, a gun battle ensued during which both officers and the suspect were wounded. Officer Huntsman was killed immediately. Officer Honey died shortly after. As other officers converged on the scene, the wounded suspect dragged his female accomplice into a doorway and shot her through the face. He then killed himself. The female companion survived her wound. She was later released. Officer Huntsman was married and the father of a daughter. He is buried near Officer Honey in Salt Lake City Cemetery.

The bronze memorial name plaque of Officer William N. Huntsman is sponsored by Jon and Karen Huntsman.

https://utahsfallen.org/officer-william-n-huntsman/