Kingsport ceremony honors fallen police officers

KINGSPORT — Fallen officers from around the Kingsport area were recognized at the Law Enforcement Memorial Service held Tuesday afternoon. The Kingsport Police Department, Sullivan County Sheriff's Office, Hawkins County Sheriff's Office and Scott County Sheriff's Office were honored in the roll call of fallen officers. Burgess Mills Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 11 Treasurer Henry Reyes recognized local leaders and family members in the crowd. "Today, we honor not only the badge, but the courage, compassion and the commitment it represents," he said. "We're joined today by distinguished guests, dedicated officers, proud families and community leaders. Your presence here is a testament to the respect and gratitude we share with those who serve." Capt. Justin Quillin offered an invocation and benediction during the service. He prayed for the safety of law enforcement officers both in the region and around the globe. "God, we ask that you be with everybody here, the families represented," Quillin said. "We ask that you just continue to ease their grief. God, fill the gaps in their life with your peace and your grace, as you always do." National Police Week The memorial took place during National Police Week, which is recognized from May 10 through May 16 this year. Mayor Paul Montgomery presented Chief Jason Bellamy with a proclamation officially recognizing National Police Week in Kingsport. "I'm honored to be in this role to recognize and honor those that are in law enforcement," Montgomery said. "We are blessed in the city to have such a fine force who are protecting us every day. It's not lost on me that they put their lives on the line for the citizens of this city every day." Kingsport Police Chief Jason Bellamy shared more about the sacrifice that comes with being a part of law enforcement and what it means to serve. "Every morning, thousands of men and women across the country stand before a mirror and they pin a piece of polished metal onto their shirt," he said. "That badge is more than just a symbol of authority, it is a physical weight that represents a promise. It's a promise to run toward the things that other people run away from, and it's the promise to be the calm in the midst of a storm and to settle someone else's worst day." He said "police work" is more than high speed chases and dramatic arrests. It's about community service. "It is an officer who spends their lunch break playing basketball with a group of juveniles just to earn their trust," Bellamy explained. "It's a sergeant who sits on the curb after an accident, holding someone's hand waiting for family to arrive. It's checking on the elderly who have no one else in their immediate family in the area, or sometimes it's guiding a lost soul toward some type of help that they need." The Kingsport Police Department Law Enforcement Memorial and Eternal Flame is located at the corner of West Market and Clay Streets in downtown Kingsport. Bellamy said each name etched into the wall represents a "warm, vibrant life" cut too short. "To the families of our fallen officers: we see you, we hear you, we thank you," he said. "We know that for you, this week isn't just a ceremony. It's an enduring reminder of the empty chair at the dinner table, the birthdays missed, the milestones that are celebrated in silence." Bellamy called on residents to honor the fallen officers by supporting one another and fostering peace. He asked fellow officers to honor them by "continuing the watch with integrity, compassion and unwavering commitment to justice." "As we reflect this week, let us remember that these fallen officers didn't just die for an abstract concept of law," he said. "They died for us. They died for the person living next door, for the child walking to school and the stranger that they never met." The Kingsport Fire Department assisted in the memorial service by flying the American flag on one of their fire trucks. Andy Wilson with the American Legion wrapped up the ceremony with a rendition of taps. Fallen officers A rose was placed on the memorial in Kingsport honoring each of the 23 fallen officers, which were listed Tuesday as the following: J.M. Carmack, Kingsport Police Department John Smith, Kingsport Police Department George Frazier, Kingsport Police Department John E. Mills, Kingsport Police Department Ira Burgess, Kingsport Police Department Lee Eldreth, Sullivan County Sheriff's Office Hubert Webb, Sullivan County Sheriff's Office Bruce Barker, Sullivan County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Arthur Lane, Sullivan County Sheriff's Office Glayton Parker, Sullivan County Sheriff's Office Steve Mullins, Sullivan County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Roscoe Bob Teague, Sullivan County Sheriff's Office Steve Riner, Sullivan County Sheriff's Office Barry Shelton, Sullivan County Sheriff's Office Robert Bowlin, Sullivan County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Steve Hinkle, Sullivan County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Joshua Stewart, Sullivan County Sheriff's Office Robert Mitchell, Sullivan County Sheriff's Office Drew Harrell, Hawkins County Sheriff's Office John Wesley Wright, Hawkins County Sheriff's Office Gerald Gibson, Hawkins County Sheriff's Office Benjamin Sluss, Scott County Sheriff's Office I.M. Skeens, Scott County Sheriff's Office For more information about fallen officers, visit https://www.KingsportTN.gov/Police-Department/Our-Fallen-Officers/.