ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — The plaque on the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial at the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office in Robertsdsale reads “Dedicated to those in the Law Enforcement Profession who made the ultimate sacrifice in the conduct of their duties in protecting the citizens of Baldwin County” and on Thursday afternoon at 3 p.m., many of the county’s law enforcement officials took time to honor those who have given their lives in the line of duty.

Baldwin County Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack welcomed those in attendance and along with Loxley Police Chief Chip Cason and Robertsdale Police Chief Brad Kendrick placed a red white and blue themed wreath at the memorial to honor those fallen officers.

Among those who have fallen and were honored are: Deputy Howard E. Dutton, Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, October 1, 1987, Corporal Larry D. Cawyer, Alabama Highway Patrol, May 25, 1985, Corporal Riley Smith, Alabama Highway Patrol, Dec 17, 1971, Lieutenant Coy Smith, Alabama Public Safety Commission, June 28, 1994, Joseph Smith, Town Marshall, August 18, 1910 and Joe F. Partin, Alabama Highway Patrolman, July 25, 1960.

“Those who have chosen to serve and make a difference in the world are the ones we honor here today. They are heroes in every sense of the word and have chosen to put their lives on the line for others, to put on the badge and go to work everyday. Because of this attitude, justice will prevail over injustice and lawlessness. We must not ever take their sacrifices for granted and I am proud of these heroes and what they have done for those they were called to protect,” said Lewis “Matt” Chapman, Special Agent in Charge for the Mobile Division of the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), who was the special guest speaker at the service.

According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, there have been 494 Line of Duty Deaths in Alabama since 2010 and 72 so far in 2011.