Sheriff Troy Nehls to be keynote speaker
The service to honor all the fallen law enforcement officials across Fort Bend County has been scheduled for Thursday, May 2 at 6 p.m. at the Peace Officers’ Memorial in front of the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff’s spokesman Bob Haenel said, “Each year, the Fort Bend County law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty are honored during this solemn event.” Since record keeping began in Fort Bend County 16 law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty according to Haenel, dating back to Feb. 7, 1843.
As ceremonies begin, Rev. Ben Gardner of Grace Baptist Church in Rosenberg will present the invocation followed by the Ft. Bend Co. Sheriff’s Honor Guard presenting the Colors. The National Anthem will be preformed by the Sheriff’s Fleet Coordinator Daryle Ryan. Sheriff Nehls will speak, then a Roll Call of the Fallen will be recited, said Haenel.
Fort Bend County law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty include begin with John V. Morton, Fort Bend County Sheriff, Feb. 7, 1843; T.J. Garvey, Fort Bend County Sheriff, Aug. 16, 1889; Henrich H. Hoffman, Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Deputy, Feb. 19, 1893; Frank Schmid Jr., Texas Ranger, June 17, 1893; Edmond H. Hardin, Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Deputy, Sept. 14, 1927; Frank P. Bell, Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Deputy, Oct. 10, 1930; H.A. White, Texas Ranger, Dec. 1, 1961; and Henry Michulka, Rosenberg Police Department, Jan. 26, 1963.
In more recent history – Dominic S. Carso, Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Deputy, March 8, 1977; Jon A Farrar, Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Detective, Aug. 5, 1977; Joseph E. Cernoch, Rosenberg Police Department, Feb. 9, 1978; Ronald D. Slockett, Sugar Land Police Department, July 4, 1987; Eugene J. Heimann, Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Deputy, March 21, 1988; David L. Braunholz, Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Deputy, April 9, 1990; Ernest V. Mendoza, Needville ISD, Jan. 29, 2007; and John D. Norsworthy Jr., Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Deputy, Jan. 4, 2011.
Taps will follow the presentation of a wreath and a 21-Gun Salute. Claudia Garza of Grace Baptist Church will perform “Amazing Grace,” the Colors will be retired and The Rev. Claude Villemaire of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Rosenberg will conduct the Benediction.
The public is invited and encouraged to attend the ceremony.