Today is National Peace Officer Memorial Day. National Peace Officer Memorial Day is a day set aside each May 15th that pays tribute to the local, state, and federal peace officers who have died, or who have been disabled, in the line of duty. During Peace Officer Memorial Day Marion County residents are reminded of the officers who gave everything to keep them protected. Knoxville Officer M.A. “Bert” Conrey lost his life on April 2nd, 1938, at the age of 56, after he sustained injuries from an assault by a couple on St. Patrick’s Day two weeks earlier. Officer Virgil Behrens was another officer who passed away in June 2008. Behrens died from injuries sustained in an automobile accident on his way to training in Des Moines.

This year’s National Peace Officer Memorial Day is also the day Knoxville Police Chief Dan Losada chose as the day he would retire after almost 40 years in law enforcement. Chief Losada tells KNIA/KRLS News he chose to retire on Peace Officer Memorial Day because it is a significant date to every law enforcement officer. Losada says he likes the idea of being able to end his career on a day of remembrance. He says it will easily be remembered by him, it’s significant to those around him, and he is proud to be going out on memorial day upright instead of horizontal. 

The Knoxville Police Department will host a special Facebook Live event for Chief Losada’s  “Final 10-42” today.  A 10-42 or Out of Service code is a meaningful event in the career and life of a police officer. The event will begin on Facebook at 3:45 p.m. and will end shortly after 4 p.m. During this time residents can feel free to share well wishes and memories with Chief Losada on this event page as well as the departments Facebook page. To hear the complete interview with Chief Losada, tune in to today’s Let’s Talk Knoxville.