Sheriff William Mullen: We must honor legacy of police killed in line of duty

Proclamations demanding war on law enforcement officers echo wide and deep across our country. As community leaders, stakeholders and citizens advocate for police reform, it is imperative that people know decent law enforcement agencies will welcome this opportunity for improvement and regularity.

Need for standardization, however, does not vindicate the actions of specific police officers, most especially those in Minneapolis, responsible for brutality against citizens. Their heinous conduct cannot and should not be defended.

But as a law enforcement representative who encourages reform and decries police violence, I must also take up for the 16 local law enforcement officers shot and killed in the line of duty over the last 20 years. The names of these heroes have been forgotten by many. Yet still the families of these men — mothers, fathers, siblings, spouses and children — must now watch as the reputation of all public safety officers is destroyed.

Police survivor families live the sacrifice every day. Their loved ones have already proven their decency; left their legacies. Why must they now be disgraced? Especially when you consider the fact that in only one of these 16 killings did an officer initiate gunfire. Good police, such as the fallen law enforcement officers of our region, do not deserve to be desecrated due to the deplorable actions of bad cops.

As the villainization of law enforcement officers proliferates, so must we increase the call to remember our fallen officers, who are no longer here to defend their integrity. Their deaths should have at least earned them as much. But it is now controversial, reckless it seems even, to speak well of a law enforcement officer, especially in the media, even if that person died honorably.

The rightful cries for the improvement of our law enforcement systems, which absolutely must be heard, understood and placed into well-constructed action, should not disparage the individuals who died in the very name of peace. Alongside all victims of violence, their names deserve to be represented:

• Officer James Naim, Aliquippa Police, March 15, 2001

• Trooper Joseph Sepp Jr., Pennsylvania State Police, Nov. 10, 2002

• Corporal Joseph Pokorny Jr., Pennsylvania State Police, Dec. 12, 2005

• Special Agent Samuel Hicks, FBI Pittsburgh Division, Nov. 19, 2008

• Officer Eric Kelly, Pittsburgh Police, April 4, 2009

• Officer Stephen Mayhle, Pittsburgh Police, April 4, 2009

• Officer Paul Sciullo, Pittsburgh Police, April 4, 2009

• Officer Michael Crawshaw, Penn Hills Police, Dec. 6, 2009

• Trooper Paul Richey, Pennsylvania State Police, Jan. 13, 2010

• Officer Derek Kotecki, Lower Burrell Police, Oct. 12, 2011

• Officer John Dwyer, East Washington Police, Dec. 18, 2011

• Officer Lloyd Reed Jr., St. Clair Township Police, Nov. 28, 2015

• Officer Scott Bashioum, Canonsburg Borough Police, Nov. 10, 2016

• Trooper Landon Weaver, Pennsylvania State Police, Dec. 30, 2016

• Officer Brian Shaw, New Kensington Police, Nov. 17, 2017

• Officer Calvin Hall, Pittsburgh Police, July 17, 2019

(Note: Names reflect local law enforcement officers shot and killed in the line of duty. They do not include officers slain or wounded in motor vehicle and other job-related accidents or officers shot, wounded or paralyzed while on the job.)

Please do not be mistaken. My message seeks to in no way to diminish or silence the information, beliefs, values, stories and emotions citizens want and need to express during this complex time. But just like at a recent demonstration in New Kensington, when protestors placed a wreath at the memorial of slain Officer Brian Shaw, the sacrifice of fallen law enforcement officers can, and should, remain worthy.

The writer is Allegheny County sheriff.