Located in the heart of the Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza in Phoenix, Arizona, the Arizona Peace Officer Memorial commemorates all of the police and law officers in Arizona who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect and serve their communities. In doing so, the memorial has become an important means of connection for communities across the entire state to honor fallen officers and their families.
Paying Homage to All Arizona Law Enforcement Officers
The Arizona Peace Officers Memorial Charity, Inc. was formed to create a memorial in 1986. In 1987, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the memorial dedicated to all Arizona peace officers killed in the line of duty. A rededication in 2021 improved the layout of the monument while also expressing gratitude to various individuals and organizations for their support.
An 11-foot statue that depicts an Arizona Peace Officer is the main feature of the Arizona Peace Officer Memorial. The inspiration for the piece was Gordon Shelby, a veteran of the Department of Public Safety and Phoenix police. The statue has its’ head bowed to silently pay homage to all the Arizona law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. The names of every police officer killed in the state, starting from 1865, are etched in the base of the statue.
Near the memorial is the Arizona Law Enforcement Canine Memorial, which honors all law enforcement canines killed in the line of duty in Arizona. Erected in 2004, it highlights the different types of sacrifices that have been made to the wider Arizona community. These types of commitment are further highlighted with the proximity of both to the Arizona Fallen Firefighters & Emergency Paramedics Memorial.
The Arizona Peace Officers Memorial Board is committed to continually raising funds for the maintenance of this memorial that perpetually honors Arizona’s fallen officers. The organization also funds the annual memorial service to bring support and comfort to their survivors. Each May, a ceremony is held at the memorial to honor the officers who have died, which is part of National Police Week. Fallen law enforcement officers are honored at this ceremony attended by the families and colleagues of officers who died in the line of duty.
These events can often be somber ones but they reflect a commitment and dedication to honoring the legacy that the Arizona Peace Officer Memorial was designed to celebrate for audiences in the present and future.
A State-wide Community Connection
Referred to by some as the best peace officer memorial statue in the entire United States, the connections that the Arizona Peace Officer Memorial has been able to establish for individuals and entire communities is as evident as it is powerful. The other memorials in the Wesley Bolin Plaza further augment these connections, highlighting how many different ways a monument can capture the hearts and minds of audiences across the eras.
