A long-awaited day arrived as the city of Grand Forks in North Dakota unveiled the Northern Valley Law Enforcement Memorial in a moving ceremony at Optimist Park on May 18.
The dedication marked a significant milestone for the community, finally providing a place to honor fallen law enforcement officers.
The ceremony took place as part of the 11th annual Northern Valley Police Week Memorial Service.
According to local officials, the newly constructed memorial serves as a tribute to law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty in northeast North Dakota, northwest Minnesota and Manitoba, Canada.
Thanks to the support of the fundraising committee, the project successfully raised over $415,000.
Bob Rost, a county commissioner and former Grand Forks County sheriff, acted as chair of the memorial committee and worked on the project for the past six years.
“This is a day that I’ve waited for a long time,” Rost said during the ceremony.
Grand Forks County Sheriff Andrew Schneider emphasized the significance of honoring the officers who sacrificed their lives.
“It’s always been significant to honor those that have gone before us, serving and giving the ultimate sacrifice,” he told the Grand Forks Herald. “In 2020, it took on more meaning with the passing of Cody Holte in the line of duty.”
Schneider referred to Holte, a 29-year-old national guardsman, who tragically lost his life during an altercation at a Grand Forks apartment on May 27, 2020.
Holte was responding to a distress call from two Grand Forks Sheriff’s deputies who were under fire while attempting to enforce an eviction notice. He was killed after being shot in the chest multiple times.
While the memorial currently stands as a testament to the fallen officers, plans are underway to construct a donor wall in the future similar to the veterans park.
“The park board is still taking donations to continue the work on this memorial here,” Schneider added. “This does look fantastic, and we’re always looking to make it better, you know, installing security cameras. There’s other aspects that we would like to continue to grow, much like the veterans park.”
The dedication ceremony featured several solemn rituals, including a presentation of colors, placement of memorial wreaths, a roll call to honor the deceased officers, a 21-gun salute and the folding of the American flag. Notable speakers included North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley, who delivered a poignant keynote address.
Wrigley highlighted the importance of supporting the loved ones of law enforcement officers, urging the community not to let them mourn alone.
He also called on the community to remember the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers, especially in the face of rising violence, and drew attention to the anticipated release of North Dakota’s concerning 2022 crime statistics.
“Something is changing, and it’s not for the better. We cannot pay a proper tribute today without noting the evolving climate that the men and women in uniform face,” Wrigley asserted. “How are you treated when making an arrest? How many officers are assaulted by members of the public when they’re making arrests or having contact? How many people are fleeing from law enforcement, just in the last weeks in our state?”
Wrigley also called for the protection of peace officers, their families and the communities they serve each day.
“We need to raise our voices to face those hard truths about violent offenders,” Wrigley said. “And our justice must be swift, and it must be sure, and it must be clear-eyed in protecting our peace officers and, by extension, their families and loved ones and the communities they lay it on the line for every day.”
