be properly instructed prior to the service by the Honor Guard Commander or other dedicated honor guard representative. A relatively new tradition that some agencies are utilizing to honor fallen officers is known as a “battle cross” or a “soldier’s cross.” This memorial includes displaying the officer’s boots on a raised stand with a photograph of the officer. This is not a practice that was traditionally seen in law enforcement services, but was more common to military services. In the honoring of a military soldier, the boots are normally presented with the helmet, inverted rifle, and identification tags of the soldier. An inverted rifle with bayonet was traditionally symbolic of a time for prayer and a break in the battle to pay tribute to the dead. In this tribute, the boots represent the final march of the last battle (Honor, Glory, Respect). A solemn and final tribute to a fallen law enforcement officer is the “End of Watch Call.” This is a final call made to officers who are no longer able to respond. It symbolizes that they have completed their duty and may now rest in peace. The voice of a dispatcher will be heard over the sound system of the church. As an illustration, the following is the End of Watch Call for Sergeant Derek Johnson. On the way back to the station at the end of his shift on September 1, 2013, Johnson was mortally wounded by a lone gunman. The officer’s call sign, the various codes, and the message used will vary from agency to agency. However, the End of Watch ceremony is a very somber end to a service resulting from a Line of Duty Death (Frazier, 2013). “We thank you for your dedication, loyalty, and service to the citizens of Draper, Utah, and the United States. You made the people you served your family. You have influenced many for your unending compassion, respect for all people, and service in many facets of law enforcement. All those you served will remember you. Your sacrifice will never be forgotten.” “Draper 9. Rest in peace.” “10-42. End of watch.” presentation to the handler of the K-9, a gun salute, playing of “Taps” or other music, and the escort of the handler and their family. Pallbearers should be provided at the discretion and approval of the K-9’s handler. The flag on the permanent flagpole should be lowered to half-mast at the approval of the handler and the agency. The services for the fallen K-9 can include the traditional component of any funeral service. There can be clergy involved as well as guest speakers, eulogies, and prayers. Most funeral homes and funeral directors are not involved in the services for dogs or other animals. Assisting an agency and community with a service such as this can be meaningful for all involved. The agency may have a need for goods and service that the funeral home may be able to provide. This need can include a small casket for the body of the K-9, an urn if cremated, memorial products, and assistance with arranging for the services. In addition to the meaningful service this may provide to the members of the department and community, it can additionally be an incredible community building opportunity for the funeral home (National Sheriffs’ Association, Unknown). to check with the appropriate local officials for those to be observed in services for fire service personnel. Funerals for firefighters and others involved in the fire service will often involve many fire department members and apparatuses, members and apparatuses from other departments, ceremonial “Draper 8.” Pause. “Draper 8.” Pause. “Draper Sierra 8. Sergeant Derek Johnson.”
for fifteen minutes, the two members will be relieved by two other members in a formal changing of the guard. As a funeral director, it is important to remember to leave sufficient room at either end of the casket for the guard members. There will also need to be a designated room at the funeral home, church, or other venue for the honor guard members to gather and stage. This room or area should be private, with comfortable seating and easy access to the area of the viewing. Agencies who have motorcycle units will normally use these to provide a formal escort of the family to the funeral home, church, and/or cemetery. This escort may also be provided by marked patrol units in lieu of or in addition to the motorcycle units. The same type of escort will be provided for the funeral coach transporting the deceased to the place of service and to the cemetery or other place of final disposition. In addition to the escort, there may be a procession of official vehicles from other departments. During the 2016 services for the Texas officer who was previously mentioned, the service was held at a large high school football stadium a few miles from the funeral home. The four-lane road in front of the funeral home was closed to traffic in both directions for several blocks prior to the procession leaving for the service. The road was used as a staging area for vehicles from other agencies to line up for the procession. The official vehicles of agencies from near and far were all lined up in the prepared staging area, with a lane through the center for the coach and procession. When the properly trained personnel are available, there will be a variety of honors presented at the funeral, memorial, or committal service. These honors may include a bugler to play “Taps,” a bagpiper, a rifle salute, a helicopter fly-over, and pallbearers. When the deceased is a veteran of the military, the family will need to decide as to any participation by a military honor guard. When a military honor guard will be involved, the efforts will need to be coordinated with the law enforcement agency honor guard. The pallbearers are provided by the department at the request of the family. The pallbearers are most commonly members of the honor guard or the fellow officers that worked most closely with the deceased. However, the pallbearers may also include friends and relatives of the deceased officer. Regardless of whether the pallbearers are members of the honor guard, other officers, or civilians, they will K-9 burial procedures Nearly since the first domestication of dogs, K-9 units have been used in military, civilian, and law enforcement applications. The highly trained K-9 units serve alongside their human partners in protecting communities. Unlike many human partners of law enforcement officers, K-9 partners go home with their counterpart every day and become part of the family. These partners form a bond with the officer and the family of the officer. When one of these four legged heroes passes away, many agencies feel it is only fitting they receive the recognition and respect of other officers. The K-9 Burial Protocol, known as “The Rocky Protocol,” brings some uniformity to the honors these trusted companions can receive. The protocol closely resembles the honors that are to be received by any law enforcement officer who is killed in the line of duty or after being retired from service. It recommends that members of the honor guard should be used if possible. The honor guard should guard the body until it is interred or the cremated remains until they are inurned or scattered. If at a gravesite, the honor guard should stand guard until the ceremony is concluded. The honors can include flag folding and Fire service The men and women of fire service stand ready to respond to dangerous situations to help others whenever the bell rings. Firefighters have many traditions that date back to the roots of the fire service. Many of these have and will be discussed within this course; however, it is always prudent
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