In January 2002 a steering committee appointed by Sheriff Gary Steed
and Wichita Police Chief Norman Williams began meeting to coordinate
design, site acquisition, construction and maintenance of a memorial
to honor municipal and county law enforcement officers of Sedgwick
County who gave their lives in performance of their duties. The
committee was incorporated as the Law Enforcement Memorial Committee
of Sedgwick County, Inc. (LEMC) in March 2003.
On Aug. 5, 2003, Wichita Mayor Carlos Myans and the members of the Wichita City Council unanimously
approved the southwest corner of Central and Main as the site for the
Law Enforcement Memorial.
Memorial Design
Created by local artist Constance Ernatt, the Law Enforcement
Memorial's unique design is reflective of the diversity in law
enforcement, and honors county and municipal law enforcement officers
killed in the line of duty. The memorial also recognizes the
officers currently serving their communities.
The Memorial site is designed in the shape of a shield, symbolizing
the protection law enforcement officers provide to their communities
and will be located on the southwest corner of Central Avenue
and Main Street in downtown Wichita adjacent to Wichita City Hall.
Click on picture to enlarge.
Click on picture to enlarge.
The front portion of the memorial will be public space to serve as a gathering area
for ceremonial purposes.
A secluded meditation area to honor fallen officers, each represented
by a panel, plaque, and a pair of bronze boots will be located within
the memorial adjacent to a black granite bench in front of the
individual panels symbolic of the black memorial band worn across
officers badges out of respect for officers killed in the line of
duty.
In the center stands a pillar with 2 bronze lions. One
lion watches over and pays tribute to the fallen officers and
the other vigilantly protects those officers currently serving
their communities.
The lions are tethered to an eternal flame of bronze and blue
glass lit by fiber optics in memory of fallen officers.
Quotations relevant to the memorial will be engraved on the
walls on either side of the statue.
Memorial Costs:
All costs of the memorial will be paid through private donations
solicited from the community by the Law Enforcement Memorial Committee
of Sedgwick County, Inc. Donations may be made by mail in care of the
Wichita Community Foundation is 200 west Douglas Suite 250, Wichita,
KS 67202 or online at
http://www.lawenforcementmemorial.org/donations.htm.
For more information visit
http://www.lawenforcementmemorial.org/ or contact Capt. Randy Landen at (316)
268-4201 rlanden@wichita.gov
or Capt. Jim Woods at (316) 383-7315
jwoods@sedgwick.gov
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