Community honors fallen law enforcement officers

After Col. Rick Wells of the Manatee County Sheriff's Department finished giving an emotional tribute on Thursday in front of the Manatee County Courthouse, he watched as members of the public headed toward their cars.

It was the closing of the Manatee County Law Enforcement Memorial Service to honor law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in Manatee County. "This is so important to all of us," Wells said of his fellow law enforcement members. "We want people to remember what these people did."

It was a theme that was carried out throughout the hour program. that no one who gave his or her life in the line of duty will be forgotten.

"We hear so much, but something like this lets us know the community does care about us," Wells said.

Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh spoke at the service as well.

"It's so emotional," Baugh said of the service. "And this is something they probably don't see enough of, appreciation from the citizens.

"Every day when they they tell their loved ones goodbye to go to work, they really don't know ..."

The service was sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 70.

The following is a list of those honored and the year they died in the line of duty in Manatee County.

Marshal Joe Terry, 1897.

Manatee County Deputy Edward Matthews, 1910.

Constable Barnie Cumbia, 1934.

Bradenton Policeman Steve Bennett, 1934.

Constable Shirley Dewey Smith, 1950.

Bradenton Police Patrolman Carl Cox, 1970.

Manatee County Detective Herbert Grimes, 1986.

Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Jeffrey Young, 1987.

Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. John Baxter, 1985.