DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – The four Dallas Police Officers and one DART Officer killed in the 2016 Police ambush were honored Monday with the unveiling of a memorial outside the Dallas Police Headquarters.
The ceremony came a day after the third anniversary of the shootings, which was the deadliest attack on law enforcement since September 11, 2001.
Families of the Officers killed in the attack attended the event where the memorial was unveiled. Valerie Zamarripa lost her son Patrick in the ambush and said she hopes the sculpture sheds light on the sacrifice Police make.
“The feeling that my son is on a monument is totally amazing and I couldn’t be more proud as a mother,” said Zamarippa. “I hope this [memorial] allows people to understand that Police have families too; they bleed just like we do.”
Dallas Police Chief Renee Hall, whose father was killed of the line of duty, said the memorial is breathtaking and provides strength for the Officers families.
“It’s absolutely beautiful,” Hall said.
Dallas Artist Barvo Walker initiated the idea to honor the five fallen officers through sculpture. Kelcy and Amy Warren, Energy Transfer, the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, and other donors provided funding for a memorial relief to be placed at Jack Evans Police Headquarters.
The project was presented to the Dallas Police Department and a panel was formed to engage the families of the officers for their approval, and to finalize renderings for the project. Upon final approval from the Ahrens, Krol, Smith, Thompson, and Zamarripa families, drawings for the sculpture were submitted to the Dallas City Council in June 2017. Council voted unanimously to move the project forward.
The 14-foot tall sculpture is nine feet wide and comprised of bronze and Texas limestone. It will be a permanent addition to the plaza at Jack Evans Police Headquarters, nestled between the flagpoles.
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