Rockland Honor Guard History

In 1989, the Rockland Police Honor Guard was formed as a five man unit and officially recognized as a representative memorial unit of the Rockland Police Department. Through the years the Honor Guard has grown to a fifteen man unit. These men, both prior to the formal Unit's formation and up to the present time, have committed themselves to be the support mechanism for the families of Officers who have been killed and/or injured in the line of duty. They have worked over the years to help bring the humanism of Police work and the losses involved to the forefront of the public's attention.

Over the years, members of the Rockland Honor Guard have attended funeral and memorial services along the eastern coast of The United States, from New Hampshire to Baltimore, MD. These men have traveled over the past 13 years to Washington, DC during National Law Enforcement Memorial Week, every May 12th-15th, to take part in the National Memorial services. They have been part of the official backdrop at the Candlelight Vigil, worked as welcoming committee for surviving families and stood guard duty at the Official Memorial during these trips. These trips are taken by officers by using their personal and vacation time. The trip is paid through the personal expenditures of the officers at no cost to the town.

Many officers here have acquaintances and friends whose names now appear on the National Wall, in remembrance of their sacrifice. Although we have never suffered the tragedy of the loss of an officer, we truly can say that we have felt the grief and pain of those left surviving the loss.

Over the course of many years, and many more to come, members of the Rockland Police Department have honored, and will honor, members of the Law Enforcement community and their families who have paid, and will pay, the ultimate sacrifice.