By: NICOLAS FIERRO
Salina Post
During National Police Week (May 10 - 16), the annual Peace Officer Memorial at Jerry Ivey Park took place on a beautiful Wednesday morning.
The Memorial in Salina, is meant to honor the fallen, while in the line-of-duty of those who served in the Salina Police Department, Kansas Highway Patrol and Saline County Sheriff's Office.
"Officer Memorial services remind me that this job is extremely dangerous and you never know when you may be facing a life or death situation in this profession," said Salina PD Chief, C.J. Wise. "I have experienced the loss of a fellow officer dying in the line of duty. This made me and many of my fellow officers realize our own mortality. I have seen this realization make officers question if this job is no longer for them. I have also personally experienced the realization that God put this career in the DNA of many officers and regardless of the dangers, they are going to show up the next day because that is what God created them to do."
Just two days before the memorial, an officer-involved shooting occurred in north Salina.
Read more here.
With the timing of the shooting, Salina Post asked Chief Wise, if this incident made him appreciate the memorial more.
"No, but this incident reaffirmed that God is good and listens to our prayers. I, along with many in our community, pray for the safety of our officers regularly. As soon as I learned of the incident and the safety of our officers, I thanked God. He showed up this day in the extraordinary and every day in the ordinary. When you look for the hand of God you can see it in all aspects of this incident and countless others."
He then stated what he would like everyone to know, of how important it is to respect, honor and remember those who have fallen.
"I believe that sometimes people can detach their feelings from fallen officers, because it can be seen as part of what they signed up for. This is not true, no officer signs up for this, but knows it could come to that. When an officer dies in the line of duty it forever changes a family, a department, and a community."
Respected, honored and remembered in the memorial were the following officers, deputies and troopers:
Kansas Highway Patrol
Maurice R. Plummer
- Died in a traffic accident, December 16, 1944, on U.S. 40 west of Russell, KS. He was the first member of the Highway Patrol to give his life in the line of duty.
Jimmie Jacobs
- Died in a traffic accident, October 6, 1959, while making an emergency blood run from El Dorado to Eureka. While attempting to pass a grain truck, the truck turned left in front of Jacobs.
John McMurray
- Died in a traffic accident, December 9, 1966, after being struck by a drunk driver on K-18 between Manhattan and Ogden. The drunk driver had a blood alcohol content of .168
Ferdinand "Bud" Pribbenow
- Death by gunfire during a traffic stop on Turnpike north of El Dorado on July 11, 1981. As he was approaching the vehicle, the suspect jumped out and fired two rounds, striking Pribbenow in the chest and neck.
Larry L. Huff
- Died from injuries that occurred in a traffic accident on U.S. 81 south of Concordia, KS on November 3, 1993. He served 23 years with the Patrol.
Dean Goodheart
- Fatally injured when struck by a motor vehicle while performing a motor carrier safety inspection, September 6, 1995. The Goodheart Law was signed into law by Gov. Graves on May 16, 2000, requiring drivers to slow down and move over near stopped emergency vehicles.
Kent Newport
- Fatal heart attack during a vehicle pursuit and stop sticks deployment on Rte. 96 near Ridge Rd. West of Maize, KS. Trooper Newport served with the KHP for 19 years and in law enforcement for a total of 35 years.
Bernard Hill
- Died in a traffic accident, May 28, 1967 on the Kansas Turnpike, after being hit head on by a car being towed in a rainstorm that jackknifed.
Eldon Miller
- Death by gunfire during an arrest of bank robbers, January 19, 1968 in Overland Park, KS. Miller drove a patrol car up to provide cover for other other officers who were pinned down when he was shot in the head. He is the first member of the Highway Patrol to be killed by gunfire.
James D. Thornton
- Death by gunfire while checking a hitchhiker on I-70 east of Topeka, October 2, 1973. The suspect shot Thornton while he was searching his bags.
Conroy O'Brien
- Death by gunfire during a traffic stop on the turnpike near Matfield Green, KS on May 24, 1978. O'Brien was found with gunshot wounds to the head after a trucker reported seeing the Trooper in the ditch.
Salina Police Department
Olney E. Eaton
-Death by a traffic accident while on duty, May 31, 1942. Officer Eaton was struck by a car while walking across a local intersection, after speaking with two Salina Police Officers.
Jerry R. Ivey
- Death by gunfire during an arrest, June 13, 1975. Officer Ivey was shot and killed during the exchange of gunfire with a suspect in an early morning armed robbery.
John Stonebraker
- Death by gunfire during an arrest, February 12, 1917. After responding to a call involving a public disturbance, Officer Stonebraker and Chief of Police Howard Burke entered a rooming house where the suspect was located. Upon entering, the man opened fire immediately killing Officer Stonebraker and wound Chief Burke.
Tom Carson
- Death by gunfire during an arrest, November 29, 1920. While on night patrol, Officer Carson was shot and killed by a man he ordered off the Union Pacific night train.
Saline County Sheriff's Office
Fred Bell
- Died of a heart attack during a courtroom struggle with an alleged murderer on September 17, 1952. The prisoner was later sentenced to life for the murder of his ex-wife.
According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund's 2025 Year-End Officer Fatalities Report, there has been a significant decline in line-of-duty deaths nationwide, with 111 officers losing their lives in service to their communities. A 25% decrease from the previous years and the lowest number recorded in more than 80 years.
While the report highlights these reductions in firearm, traffic and other duty-related fatalities, it also serves as a solemn reminder that every statistic represents a life dedicated to protecting others. The average fallen officer was 44 years old, served 14 years in law enforcement, and left behind family, friends and communities forever changed by their sacrifice.
