Debra Bolton, assistant director of Admissions in the College of Dentistry at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, lost her brother-in-law, Sean Bolton, a Memphis Police Department officer, on August 1, 2015. He was killed in the line of duty.
On Wednesday, she stood before guests gathered for the 2022 Police Memorial Program at UTHSC to talk about Sean and pay tribute to all law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in service to others.
“I think it is important to recognize that the officers we gathered to honor are not just names on a paper,” Bolton said. “They were real people with dreams and families.”
As part of its National Police Week observance, UTHSC has traditionally held a memorial program for fallen officers, said Campus Police Captain Joanne Morrow. Due to COVID-19, the public service was not possible the last two years.
This year, however, approximately 60 people attended the service. Representatives from local law enforcement agencies were invited, along with the campus community. Campus Police Chief Anthony Berryhill welcomed guests. The names of 59 campus police officers from across the country who lost their lives in the line of duty were read and a wreath was displayed in their honor.
National Police Week runs May 11-17 this year. The Campus Police Department also traditionally hosts a cookout for law enforcement personnel in the Medical District. The event will be on the patio of the Student-Alumni Center on Tuesday, May 17, from 11:30 a.m-1 p.m., Captain Morrow said.