PITTSFIELD, Mass. — So far in 2016, 35 police officers have died in the line of duty.

 

Those 35 join the national total of more than 20,000 officers who died or were killed while doing their job.

 

Last year, 128 officers "made the ultimate sacrifice."

 

"These are the men and women who put on their equipment and purposefully stride toward the scene of gunfire, violence, destruction and chaos when many other people would turn and run away," Police Chief Michael Wynn said. 

 

On Monday, law enforcement representatives from a number of local police department, the district attorney's office, and state and local elected officials joined on a windy and cold day to remember those fallen officers.

 

Five officers related to Pittsfield have paid the "ultimate sacrifice": Capt. Michael Leonard, in 1898; Jailer James Fuller, 1901; Secret Service Operative William Craig, 1902; Officer Leo Sullivan, 1956; and Officer Timothy Shepard, 1988.

 

"For many many years on or near national police week, the Pittsfield Police Department has commemorated it by holding our own local services," Wynn said.

 

National Police Week was first established in 1962 with May 15 being recognized as the national police officer memorial day and the week being police week. In 1994 President Bill Clinton amended the resolution and required all flags outside of federal building be at half staff on May 15. 

 

Pittsfield holds a ceremony annually and on Monday, Mayor Linda Tyer read a proclamation recognizing the week in the city of Pittsfield.

 

"Today we pay our respects to those officers who are enshrined on our memorial, who served and protected Pittsfield for generations. By the very nature of their calling, law enforcement officers willingly and without hesitation put their lives on the line in service to us," Tyer said.

 

"Their courage, training, and dedication keep us safe even as they put themselves in harm's way."

 

Monday's ceremony featured the Pittsfield Police Department honor guard raising a flag to half staff outside of the station; an invocation by the Chaplin Russell Moody; poems from Det. Kim Bertelli-Hunt and PPD Officers Wives Group member Marissa Kirchner; roll call and echo of the officers killed in the city; the playing of taps by Ray Kinsella and the singing of "Amazing Grace" by Mary Brinton.

 

"It is awe inspiring when you step back and think about what the members of the law enforcement community here in Pittsfield, in the Berkshires, throughout the Commonwealth and our country, do every single day," state Sen. Benjamin Downing said. 

 

"We take it for granted all too much. We take it for granted all too often. The least we can do as a community is come together and say thank you to the fine men and women who do that every single day."

 

Comments were kept brief because of high winds and temperatures in the 30s, a contrast from last year's bright and sunny day for the ceremony. Allen Street was closed off from Federal to East Street for the city's stage to hold the ceremony and reopened after the ceremony, when many joined the officers inside the station for refreshments.