FALLEN HEROES MEMORIAL DEDICATION CEREMONY
WHO: Lakeland Police Department and Families of Fallen Officers
WHAT: Lakeland Police Fallen Heroes / Memorial Plaque Dedication for Officers Ken Foley and Paul Dunn
WHEN: Thursday, December 3, 2020, at 5:00 p.m.
WHERE: Lakeland Police Department, 219 North Massachusetts Avenue
WHY: Honoring Lakeland's Fallen Officers
LAKELAND, FL (December 3, 2020) - The Lakeland Police Department will be hosting a small ceremony to dedicate the memorial plaques for Fallen Officers Ken Foley and Paul Dunn on Thursday, December 3, 2020. Guests will gather at Lakeland Police Fallen Heroes Memorial, located at the front entrance of the Lakeland Police Department. The ceremony will begin at 5:00 p.m. and is expected to last approximately 45 minutes. During the ceremony, all of Lakeland's fallen officers will be honored.
On December 4, 2019, Officer Ken Foley was found unresponsive in his patrol vehicle while on duty. It was later determined that he suffered a fatal medical episode. Officer Foley served in law enforcement for 29 years.
On January 9, 2020, Officer Paul Dunn was killed in an on-duty traffic crash while driving his police motorcycle. Officer Dunn served at the Lakeland Police Department for six years and had 20 years of combined law enforcement service.
The Memorial is a beautiful site that honors Lakeland's seven fallen officers: Patrolman William Barnett, Patrolman Thomas Nicholson, Officer Eugene DeBerry, Officer Carl Cushman, Officer Arnulfo Crispin, Officer Ken Foley, and Motor Officer Paul Dunn. The centerpiece features a life-size bronze Honor Guard sculpture, named A. Hero, atop a granite backdrop watching over the fallen officers' names. Attached to the granite are five glass plaques, each etched with a fallen officer's name and photo. Also featured is a large glass badge, illuminated with LED lights, to serve as a reminder of those still serving. The foundation of the site is lined with personalized engraved bricks, which were sold to help fund the Memorial.
The main entrance to the station will be closed beginning at 3:45 p.m. Those who need to visit the station for police business should enter on Bay Street.) The portion of Massachusetts Avenue between Cedar Street and Bay Street will be closed beginning at 4:30 p.m. Motorists will be detoured one block over to Kentucky Avenue. Detours will be clearly marked, and traffic will be redirected.
The ceremony will be live-streamed on the Lakeland Police Department's Facebook page for the public. If you plan to attend, please email mediarelations@lakelandgov.net, and a parking location will be sent to you.
To ensure the safety of all attending, we request that guests wear masks and practice social distancing.