South Plains College honors fallen peace officers
LEVELLAND – South Plains College hosted the annual Peace Officer Memorial Wednesday (May 2) at the entrance to South Plains College. The event honors law enforcement officers whose lives were lost while serving and protecting citizens across the United States.
More than 128 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty in 2017 with 15 officers in Texas. Chief Albert Garcia of the Levelland Police Department delivered the keynote address.
Among the honorees was Deputy Jason Fann. He graduated from our evening academy in July 2016, and he was attending academic courses toward his Associate’s Degree at the time of his death. Fann was killed in an on-duty vehicle accident while responding to a call for service on Aug. 5, 2017. His family attended the ceremony and were presented a special plaque in his honor.
The SPC Law Enforcement Program is conducting a fundraiser to establish the Jason Fann Memorial Scholarship at South Plains College to benefit students majoring in Criminal Justice or Law Enforcement Technology. They are selling navy blue shirts featuring the badge of the SPC Law Enforcement program with the words "Honoring the Fallen Training the Living." The back of the shirt features a U.S. style flag with the thin blue line and the following text, "IN MEMORY OF Deputy Jason Fann E.O.W. August 5, 2017 Yoakum County Sheriff's Office South Plains College Alumnus." The prices are $17 for small-XL and $19 for 2XL/3XL.
Texas Law Enforcement officers who died in 2017 are:
Police Officer Kenneth Malcom Copeland, San Marcos Police Department, Dec. 4; Trooper Damon Charles Allen, Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol, Nov. 23; Border Patrol Agent Rogelio Martinez, United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - United States Border Patrol, Nov. 19; Senior Trooper Thomas Patrick Nipper, Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol, Nov. 4; Police Officer Floyd East, Jr., Texas Tech University Police Department, Oct. 9; Police Officer Elias Martinez, Jr., Metropolitan Transit Authority Police Department, Sept. 17; Deputy Constable Mark Gregory Diebold, Tarrant County Constable's Office - Precinct 5, Sept. 7; Sergeant Steve Albert Perez, Houston Police Department, Aug. 27; Corporal Monty D. Platt, West Texas A&M University Police Department, Aug. 8; Detective Elise Ann Ybarra, Abilene Police Department, Aug. 6; Deputy Sheriff Jason Matthew Fann, Yoakum County Sheriff's Office, Aug. 5; Police Officer Miguel Moreno, San Antonio Police Department, June 30; Border Patrol Agent Isaac Morales, United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - United States Border Patrol, May 24; Assistant Chief Deputy Clinton Francis Greenwood, Harris County Constable's Office - Precinct 3, April 3; and Detective Jerry Ronald Walker, Little Elm Police Department, Jan. 17.
For more information, contact Dr. Lance Scott, Chairperson of the Professional Services and Energy Department and Professor of Law Enforcement, at (806) 716-2558 or Mr. Mark Wittie, Instructor of Law Enforcement, at (806) 716-2356.
South Plains College hosted the annual Peace Officer Memorial Wednesday (May 2) at the entrance to South Plains College. Shown is Colby Grigsby of Iraan playing “Taps” on the bugle. The event honors law enforcement officers whose lives were lost while serving and protecting citizens across the United States. More than 128 law enforcement officers were killed nationwide in the line of duty in 2017 with 15 officers in Texas. Chief Albert Garcia of the Levelland Police Department delivered the keynote address. (SPC Photo/Wes Underwood)
