October 18, 2018
The state broke ground today for the Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Monument in a ceremony attended by Gov. Rick Snyder, Lt. Gov. Brian Calley and numerous other public safety officials and surviving family members of heroes lost in the line of duty. The monument’s permanent home in downtown Lansing will be completed by the fall of 2019, standing adjacent to the Hall of Justice in the Capitol complex.
“We owe a great deal of gratitude to our law enforcement personnel, and this monument will forever honor fallen officers who gave everything to protect their communities,” said Gov. Snyder. “Thank you to the commission and corporate partners who helped make this important memorial possible. This constant reminder of sacrifice is a wonderful, lasting tribute to the heroes we lost and the families who lost their loved ones.”
Earlier this year, Gov. Snyder signed a supplemental appropriation for a $1.18 million grant to build the Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Monument, pushing the 14-year fund-raising efforts past the goal needed to begin construction.
The memorial monument will be constructed within the Veterans Memorial Park, at the corner of Allegan Street and Butler Boulevard, directly south of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in downtown Lansing.
“The men and women in law enforcement are the best among us, putting their lives on the line every day to keep us safe,” said Lt. Gov. Calley. “This monument is a testament to the sacrifice of our fallen heroes, and I’m proud that we’re breaking ground and making this memorial a reality.”
The memorial monument, coined the "Sentinel," will be composed of 10 sentinels - 4’ X 8’ metal panels engraved with the names of fallen officers - standing vigil over the memories of those lost. The panels will march from west to east and will be lit from below. The panels will provide a sense of strength and stability due to their scale while allowing security and visibility of the adjacent Vietnam Memorial.
“We are profoundly grateful to Gov. Snyder and the Michigan Legislature for helping us cross the finish line,” said John Szczubelek, Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Memorial (MLEOM) Fund Commission chair. “Special thanks are due to Delta Dental for their generous contribution and the thousands of donors across Michigan. We can now turn our attention to building a majestic structure that pays solemn tribute to the nearly 600 officers who sacrificed their lives making our communities safer.”
In January 2017, Delta Dental of Michigan pledged $100,000 toward the monument fund and reignited the fund-raising contributions from Michigan businesses and associations.
“We are looking forward to seeing this monument stand tall in downtown Lansing for years to come,” said Goran Jurkovic, chief operating officer for Delta Dental. “We are humbled to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for Michigan's residents.”
Created by Public Act 177 of 2004, the commission began fund-raising efforts in 2005 with a goal to raise funds to build and maintain a memorial monument to honor Michigan law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty. To learn more about the MLEOM Commission and the memorial monument, visit www.mleom.org.
