Alaska honors fallen officers at law enforcement memorial

May 08, 2010

Anchorage police officer Jason Allen, who was shot several times in his patrol car in January, says carrying on is his way of honoring those officers who didn't make it home. (Jonathan Hartford/KTUU-DT)

by Megan Baldino
Friday, May 7, 2010

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A somber memorial was held at the Alaska State Crime Lab in Anchorage Friday to remember Alaska's fallen law enforcement officers. Among those there to honor them was an Anchorage police officer who could have been one of them.

This week residents of Alaska, like other states across the country, are taking time to remember and honor law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

"There is not one of us, my bet is, that once these names are read, that hasn't been touched personally by one or more of these individuals," said Gov. Sean Parnell.

In all, 59 law enforcement officers have been killed in Alaska since it became a U.S. territory, while serving and protecting their communities.

One of those who spoke about making the ultimate sacrifice was Anchorage police officer Jason Allen, who was shot several times in his patrol car in January.

"A few short months ago, I nearly joined the ranks of those who lost their lives in the line of duty," Allen said. "But a miracle happened, and I survived, I went home to my wife and family."

Allen was critically injured, and it's been a long road back from the brink -- but he says he's not giving up.

"I still have some major nerve damage in my arm, so don't know if I'll make it back in this uniform again after this day or not," Allen said. "I'm a police officer -- that's what I do, that's what I want to do, that's it. So I don't even want to turn my thoughts to anything else."

Allen says carrying on is his way of honoring those who didn't make it home.

"Never forget that it falls on us to simply remember and cherish them forever, to carry on their work, and to be always grateful for what was truly their gift to us," Allen said.

One hundred and twenty-five law enforcement officers, federal, state and local were killed in the line of duty in 2009.

Contact Megan Baldino at mbaldino@ktuu.com

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